China’s leaders have reaffirmed they will maintain their zero COVID policy, state television reported Thursday, affirming Beijing’s “unwavering” resolve to stick to the policy.
China is the last major economy to pursue a tough health strategy in the face of COVID, but the repeated lockdowns it entails have disrupted production and supply chains, putting a damper on activity.
The country is pursuing a strict health policy, with almost daily screenings for the population, compulsory quarantines for people who test positive or even confinements as soon as cases appear.
President Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of the Communist Party’s new Standing Committee, where leaders said they would “severely implement” COVID-19 prevention rules, state broadcaster CCTV reported Thursday.
“The meeting underlined the need […] to unswervingly apply the defense strategy against the importation of foreign viruses,” CCTV said.
The statement echoed comments by National Health Commission (NHC) spokesperson Mi Feng, who said on Saturday that China would stick to its “unwavering” policy on COVID-19.
China is grappling with the biggest wave of transmitted cases in six months, with nearly 9,000 infections reported Thursday.
During the meeting, party leaders called on local officials to adopt a “one size fits all” strategy for pandemic prevention.
The zero COVID policy has resulted in rare popular discontent due to food shortages and delayed medical responses for those in lockdown.
Ninety-five new infections were reported Thursday in Beijing, where schools have been closed in central Chaoyang district since Monday.
The zero-COVID policy is contributing to China’s economic gloom, with bad numbers coming and going amid a global slowdown.