Steep COVID-19 Surge in China... Concerns Over 'New Variant'

Surge in COVID-19 Cases in China After Withdrawal of 'Zero COVID' Policy
US State Department Expresses Concern Over Possible Emergence of New Variant

On the 13th (local time) in Beijing, China, a citizen is leaving a pharmacy holding a bag containing medicine with both hands. Photo by AP·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] In China, which has abruptly shifted from the high-intensity COVID-19 containment policy of 'Zero COVID' to 'With COVID,' the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is surging. In response, the U.S. government expressed concerns about the potential emergence of new variants and emphasized the importance of appropriate COVID-19 measures.

According to Bloomberg News, on the 19th (local time), Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said at a regular briefing, "We hope this issue will be resolved regarding the current COVID-19 outbreak situation in China," adding, "We know that the virus can mutate whenever it spreads, posing a threat to people in all regions."

Price stated, "We have confirmed this fact through various genetic sequences of the (COVID-19) virus, which is one of the reasons why countries worldwide are focusing on COVID-19 responses." He also added, "Considering China's gross domestic product (GDP) size, the scale of infections is significant for other countries as well," and "China managing COVID-19 well benefits not only China but the entire world."

Earlier, the Chinese government effectively abandoned the 'Zero COVID' policy that had been in place for nearly three years. On the 7th, following 20 optimized prevention measures announced last month, the Chinese government additionally announced 10 optimized prevention measures, including allowing self-quarantine and minimizing nucleic acid (PCR) testing.

However, infectious disease experts have warned about the risks of China easing its 'Zero COVID' policy. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), expressed concern at the 'Global Boardroom' event hosted by the Financial Times (FT) on the 7th, stating, "Large-scale infections provide ample opportunities for the virus to mutate," and "A completely new variant that affects the entire world could emerge due to the massive spread in China."

Currently, in China, the sudden transition to 'With COVID' has led to a sharp increase in infections and a rapid rise in deaths. On the 19th, Chinese health authorities reported two deaths nationwide due to COVID-19 infections across 31 provinces, but reports continue to emerge that crematoriums and funeral homes in various regions of China are overwhelmed.

There is also an emergency in securing intensive care unit (ICU) beds and medical personnel. On the 20th, the state-run Global Times cited recent data from the National Health Commission (NHC), reporting that there are 138,100 ICU beds across China. This amounts to about 9.8 beds per 100,000 people, which is drastically insufficient compared to countries like Germany (28.2 beds) and the United States (21.6 beds).

Specialized medical personnel are also insufficient. Infectious disease expert Zhang Wexin told the Global Times, "Most hospitals are borrowing staff from other medical institutions, and only some hospitals are urgently training ICU medical staff and nurses."