Amid COVID-19 Surge, China Promises Better Medical Care

Due to the rapid rise in Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection numbers after the Chinese government abandoned its strict zero-COVID policy measures, the government has promised to provide better medical treatment and drug supplies.

The state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that during a tour of health facilities in Beijing, Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan called for a “smooth transition” from previous restrictive measures focusing on curbing the spread of the virus to necessary medical treatment of those infected.

In a radical turnaround last week, Beijing announced a far-reaching easing of lockdowns, quarantine rules, mandatory testing, and travel in China, causing case numbers to skyrocket.

Authorities no longer request PCR tests and have stopped issuing reliable data on the spread of the virus in the country.

In the capital, a large number of businesses, shops, and restaurants are temporarily closed because many employees are infected.

Read Also: COVID-19: China Announces Nationwide Easing of Restrictions

Meanwhile, the unexpected change, of course, caught many hospitals largely unprepared, with high case numbers among staff further adding to the burden.

The authorities have called on those infected to rest up at home instead of going to the hospital if possible.

Sun, therefore, stressed the need for additional fever clinics and more staff during her tour on Tuesday.

Especially the elderly, children, patients with pre-existing conditions, pregnant women, and other particularly vulnerable groups must be better protected, the vice premier said.

Sun also stressed “the need to effectively coordinate the COVID-19 response with economic and social development.”

One of the reasons behind the policy turnaround can be attributed to a large number of lockdowns and other measures that have severely affected growth in the world’s second-largest economy.

SOURCE: XINHUA