A medical worker wears a protective suit near a testing counter as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to break out in Beijing, China, October 23, 2022.
Thomas Peter | Reuters
China on Sunday reported its highest number of new Covid-19 infections in six months, a day after health officials said it was strictly complying. contain coronavirusmaybe disappointing lately investors hope to reduce.
China recorded 4,420 new locally transmitted Covid-19 infections on Saturday, the most since May 6 and compared with 3,659 new locally transmitted cases a day ago, the National Health Commission said. there.
While the number of cases by global standards is extremely low, China has stuck with a zero-Covid approach nearly three years after the pandemic involving lockdowns, quarantines, regular testing and reductions. strong domestic tourism.
At a news conference on Saturday, health officials reiterated their commitment to a “dynamic cleaning” approach to Covid cases as they emerge.
China’s anti-Covid measures are “absolutely correct, as well as the most economical and effective”, said epidemic control official Hu Xiang. “We should stick to the principle of putting people and lives first and the broader strategy of preventing imports from outside and inside from rising again.”
Chinese people Stocks soar Last week there were rumors of possible easing of Covid curbs and media reports that some adjustments to the policy could be coming soon.
However, many analysts said they do not expect significant easing to begin until after China’s annual parliamentary session in March.
Goldman Sachs analysts said Saturday’s announcement shows that “the government still needs to keep its zero-Covid policy in place until all the preparations are complete. This could take several months, according to analysts. our point,” they wrote, saying their “basic” expectation is to reopen. in the fourth quarter of June.
The city government of nearly 19 million people said that the city of Guangzhou continued to report increased infections, with 66 new symptomatic cases locally transmitted and 1,259 asymptomatic cases, compared with 111 symptomatic cases and 635 asymptomatic cases a day earlier, the city government of nearly 19 million people said.
The Chinese capital Beijing reported 43 symptomatic cases and 6 asymptomatic cases, compared with 37 symptomatic cases and 5 asymptomatic cases the day before.
However, the annual Beijing marathon takes place on Sunday morning under strict Covid protocols, after being canceled two years earlier.
About 26,000 participants signed up for the event, which began under a smoky sky in Tiananmen Square, central Beijing. Athletes are required to take PCR tests for three days before the race and must not leave Beijing for seven days.
