[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] The number of new COVID-19 cases in China has continued to decline for two consecutive days. It appears that the semi-lockdown guidelines in major cities are showing effects.
According to the National Health Commission of China on the 30th, the number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide as of the previous day was 37,612 (33,376 asymptomatic), showing a decline for two consecutive days. The number of new cases, which had risen to the 30,000 range on the 23rd and set daily records, peaked at 40,052 on the 27th and is now showing signs of slowing spread.
Despite protests against the zero-COVID policy, China is still postponing 'reopening,' which means full external opening and normalization of economic activities.
However, there are also expectations that China may have started preliminary work for easing quarantine measures. The State Council's COVID-19 Joint Response Team held a press conference the day before and announced plans to strengthen vaccination for the elderly. In particular, they urged that "each region should actively utilize databases (DB) such as health insurance to accurately identify the number of vaccination targets aged 60 and over," and support elderly vaccination at nursing homes, rest areas, care facilities, senior universities, senior activity centers, and senior entertainment venues. The scope of refusal for vaccination was limited to allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock and laryngeal edema, as well as cancer patients, hypertension patients, and those with autoimmune neurological diseases.
The State Council emphasized, "Vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness or death in the elderly," and added, "Vaccination should be maximized, and the government’s leadership and interdepartmental coordination must fulfill management responsibilities."
According to local authorities, among China's 1.4 billion population, the booster shot vaccination rate reaches 90%, but this rate decreases with increasing age. The booster shot vaccination rate for those aged 60 and over is 86%, and for those over 80, it is about 65.7%. Only 40% of children under 10 have received booster shots. The low vaccination rate among vulnerable age groups has been the main justification for China’s zero-COVID policy. Therefore, this recent measure to accelerate vaccination for the elderly is analyzed as a preparatory step to lower quarantine levels.
Additionally, during the briefing, authorities reiterated guidelines to prohibit arbitrary expansion of high-risk areas and emphasized that lockdowns should be conducted as quickly and briefly as possible, seemingly to appease public sentiment.
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