Covid-19

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

No new variant has emerged so far
According to China’s health authorities, virus samples have not yet revealed the existence of any unknown Covid mutations, despite a high number of cases. Covid strains BA.5.2 and BF.7 continue to dominate the infection activity in the country. Before the current wave, there were fears that high infection numbers would spawn a new variant. However, […] continue reading →
New Year celebration under pandemic conditions
Our China Perspective column is written by authors from the People's Republic who prefer to remain anonymous. Today's article talks about the first New Year's celebration with the family after the end of zero-Covid. continue reading →
Dozens still detained
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), dozens of protesters are still detained across the country after the protest in November against zero-Covid and for political freedoms. Some of them have no contact with family members and are being held in unknown locations, the US-based human rights organization said. HRW demanded that the leadership in Beijing […] continue reading →
Hong Kong’s difficult comeback
The Chinese Special Administrative Region was hit even harder by the pandemic than the People's Republic. Now the financial metropolis seeks to make a comeback. But that will not be easy. continue reading →
Delayed tourist visas
Although the Chinese are once again allowed to leave the country for their vacations, the People's Republic continues to deny tourist visas to foreigners. The chaos at home is supposed to fall under the radar of global perception. continue reading →
Taiwan’s new premier
Research was the love of his life. Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said this in 2020 after stepping down as vice president of Taiwan. The epidemiologist had decided not to run again after four years in office and had returned to the Academia Sinica State Research Academy. But if he was needed, he would be ready at […] continue reading →
Model: Even higher Covid wave ahead
The Covid wave in China could reach a first peak this Friday, with 3.7 million new infections. This was calculated by researchers from the independent data analysis institute Airfinity. The number of Covid-related deaths could also peak ten days later at 25,000 per day. According to estimates, the infection wave that has gripped China since […] continue reading →
Academy of Engineering laments high mortality rate
The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) reports a spike in deaths among its members following the abrupt Covid openings in mid-December. From Dec. 15 to Jan. 04, 22 aged engineers and scientists among the 900 academicians died. On average, only 16 members died in the entire year in previous years. The CAE did not violate […] continue reading →
Germany introduces mandatory testing
Starting Monday, China lifts the agonizing entry quarantine. At the same time, Germany follows the EU recommendation and introduces mandatory testing. However, a large, mutual travel wave is not yet foreseeable. In Western countries, the fear of dangerous mutations is spreading. continue reading →
Brussels’ long to-do list for 2023
The new year of relations between China and the EU is off to a shaky start: Anyone who wants to travel from the People's Republic to certain EU states will have to provide a negative Covid test as of next week. Beijing is not very happy about this. But trouble also looms on the horizon in other areas. continue reading →
Xi’s speech: focus once again on photos
In his New Year’s speech, President Xi Jinping praised China’s pandemic policy. “Since Covid-19 struck, we have put the people first and put life first all along,” he said, according to the speech transcript released by state media. “We have adapted our Covid response in light of the evolving situation to protect the life and […] continue reading →
‘Everyone is sick here’
From zero-Covid to full-Covid: The steep Omicron wave brings public and economic life to a grinding halt. The previously flawless testing system is being sabotaged by the authorities themselves. Some foreigners have problems leaving the country. continue reading →
Epidemic with fatal consequences
China has portrayed the spread of Covid in Western countries as a symptom of a failed system. Now the country faces a high, sharp wave that was elsewhere avoided with contact restrictions, vaccination, and a bit of luck. continue reading →
Model predicts nearly one million Covid deaths
While crematoria are at capacity, state media remain silent on death tolls – and in some cases lie. A model from the University of Hong Kong predicts a high number of deaths this winter. continue reading →
Publication of infection numbers discontinued
The government colossus responds to the surge in infection numbers. New fever clinics are to cushion the influx of the sick. Unfortunately, there is little progress on transparency. continue reading →
Covid tsunami catches China unprepared
Infected doctors, missing rapid tests and masks: It becomes more and more obvious how naïve the government was in launching the hasty opening of the country. A health catastrophe is on the horizon. continue reading →
The Covid wave rolls
In the coming months, hundreds of millions of Chinese could contract the Coronavirus. Queues already form outside the "fever clinics". Meanwhile, the government reports only low infection numbers and squanders trust. continue reading →
Zero-Covid ends – for now
The government effectively announced the end of far-reaching contact restrictions. There will be no more lockdowns of entire neighborhoods. The health code loses its power. But Omicron could now spread rapidly. As a result, the government promotes vaccination. continue reading →