China, 82% of Population Infected with COVID-19 in 3 Months... How Did This Happen?

Health Authorities Announce Estimates Based on Survey Results
Confirmed Cases Surge After Strict 'Zero Corona' Policy Abandoned

A study has found that 82% of the population in China was infected with COVID-19 within three months after the country eased its COVID-19 prevention regulations in December last year.

On the 29th, major foreign media reported on the contents of the weekly report released the day before by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

China concluded that more than 82% of its population was infected with the coronavirus between December last year and February this year. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China had implemented a 'Zero COVID' policy, locking down entire regions even if only one case was detected.

However, as protests against the strict prevention policies began to spread nationwide, Chinese authorities abruptly abandoned the 'Zero COVID' policy in December last year, after which COVID-19 cases surged in a short period.

Anti-'Zero COVID' Protest Held in Beijing Last November
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

The report announced, "From December last year to January this year, COVID-19 infections surged and peaked, and by February 7, more than 82.4% of China's population had been infected with COVID-19."

However, the research team added, "Many of the infected did not undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen tests, so the exact number of infections could not be accurately measured."

They also acknowledged, "The survey was limited to WeChat (微信, China's mobile messenger) users and only dealt with samples from 2,316 participants infected during a specific period, so there are certain limitations in the research methodology."

Meanwhile, regarding the domestically produced vaccines that were subject to the so-called 'water vaccine' controversy, the research team explained, "We found that COVID-19 vaccines developed in China are effective in preventing symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and fatigue caused by COVID-19," adding, "The additional booster effect against Omicron subvariants was 49% within three months of vaccination and 37.9% between three to six months after vaccination."