Episode
China’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’
23:42
Published: Tue Jan 17 2023
Description
For nearly three years, China had one of the lowest coronavirus death rates in the world, thanks to its strict yet effective “zero Covid” approach.But last month, the government suddenly abandoned the policy. Since then, there have been millions of coronavirus cases across the country.Guest: Alexandra Stevenson, the Shanghai bureau chief for The New York Times.Background reading: After micromanaging the coronavirus strategy for nearly three years, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has suddenly left people to improvise.China said that it recorded nearly 60,000 fatalities linked to the coronavirus in the month since the country lifted the “zero Covid” policy.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Chapters
With millions of COVID cases around the country, hospital waiting rooms and hallways are overflowing with patients and their families, leading to chaotic scenes and long lines.
00:00 - 03:09 (03:09)
Summary
With millions of COVID cases around the country, hospital waiting rooms and hallways are overflowing with patients and their families, leading to chaotic scenes and long lines. Meanwhile, China's strict policy of zero COVID helped keep their death rates low for nearly three years.
EpisodeChina’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’
PodcastThe Daily
The Chinese government is relaxing its strict zero COVID policies, which have been in place for almost three years, due to the drop in the number of people receiving booster shots and the restrictions being too excessive.
03:09 - 10:23 (07:14)
Summary
The Chinese government is relaxing its strict zero COVID policies, which have been in place for almost three years, due to the drop in the number of people receiving booster shots and the restrictions being too excessive.
EpisodeChina’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’
PodcastThe Daily
China's elderly vaccination campaign appears halfhearted as the government pulls back from COVID-19 restrictions, while the country lacks recent data on the progress of this new vaccination campaign.
10:23 - 15:43 (05:19)
Summary
China's elderly vaccination campaign appears halfhearted as the government pulls back from COVID-19 restrictions, while the country lacks recent data on the progress of this new vaccination campaign. Meanwhile, employees are being laid off from their jobs as companies are unable to continue operating under ongoing or sudden lockdowns.
EpisodeChina’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’
PodcastThe Daily
This podcast discusses the messaging surrounding China's response to COVID-19, which emphasized the prioritization of people's lives, and the potential consequences of the influx of travelers spreading the virus to more remote parts of the country.
15:43 - 22:27 (06:43)
Summary
This podcast discusses the messaging surrounding China's response to COVID-19, which emphasized the prioritization of people's lives, and the potential consequences of the influx of travelers spreading the virus to more remote parts of the country.
EpisodeChina’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’
PodcastThe Daily
At least 30 people were missing and 75 were wounded in one of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan in months.
22:27 - 23:34 (01:07)
Summary
At least 30 people were missing and 75 were wounded in one of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan in months. The attack comes as Russia claims some modest success in terms of territory in Ukraine.