OThe outbreak of the COVID-19 delta mutation in China has returned the ruling party to strict blockade, jeopardizing the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing next February.
Highly contagious delta mutants have spurred new outbreaks across the country, which until recently had been relatively successful in controlling new case populations, thanks to strict quarantine measures and border control policies. I did. However, the country’s attraction to more extreme closures and travel restrictions is not only damaging to the country’s economy, but also unsustainable given the ability of foreign spectators to watch the match directly.
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The new flare-up, which reached at least 15 states, was linked to the international airport in Nanjing, the capital of eastern Jiangsu. according to For Associated Press. Today, the government is returning to a strict containment measure called “zero tolerance,” which essentially blocks cities from the outside world at the expense of the economy.
“Blockades are being imposed rapidly in many parts of China.” Said Yanzhong Huang, Senior Fellow, Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations. “I have never seen such aggressive containment measures taken since April 2020.”
Chinese government move on Sunday Closing Zhangjiajie, home to about 1.5 million people, was similar to the country’s early pandemic response, closing the entire city of Wuhan, where the first COVID-19 outbreak exploded in early 2020. Returning to that policy last year could hinder the country’s economy before adjusting the game.
“The Nanjing outbreak encourages national stress testing and serves as food for thinking about the future of our pandemic response.” Said Dr. Zhang Wenhong, an expert on infectious diseases in China.
City-wide closures and strict travel restrictions can also force athletes to compete in empty stadiums. This is a safety measure taken by the International Olympic Committee for the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
“If you have a choice, you should have an audience.” Said IOC Executive Director Christoph Dubi. “Let’s see how the pandemic progresses, especially in China and around the world. Let’s take a look at the results of audience participation.”
The 2022 organizer is planning the game at this time, but the IOC has indicated that it is ready to postpone concerns about another COVID-19 wave. Mr. Dubi said the Tokyo organizer team is advising the team responsible for hosting the February Beijing Olympics on how to make the event as safe as possible. Go in and out. “
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“We are in the final stages of preparation,” Dubi said. “Yes, many lessons to be learned, many exchanges between organizing committees.”
So far, China has given 28% of its population at least one dose of state-developed vaccines, according to the report. Tracking From Our World in Data.In addition to the low overall vaccination rate, among public health experts, injections from China’s largest vaccine makers, Sinopharm and Sinovac, Does not provide sufficient protection For severe cases of COVID-19.
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tag: Health care, news, coronavirus, Olympic, China, Beijing, vaccination, Foreign policy
Original author: Cassidy Morrison
Original location: The outbreak of the new COVID-19 in China raises questions about the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing