As you probably know by now, the covid situation in China was extremely tragic, and not due to the number of covid cases so much, but due to the draconian measures that the authorities have been taking. Check out the latest reports below.
China could unveil new measures this week
The other day, we were revealing that Reuters press agency notes the fact that China may announce 10 new covid management measures as early as Wednesday.
This is what two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Such measures, if given, will be supplementing the 20 measures unveiled in November that set off a wave of covid-easing steps across the nation.
China may eventually downgrade its management of covid 19 as a top-level Category A infectious disease to a less strict Category B disease as early as January. This is what the sources said on Monday.
The National Health Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters fax seeking comment, according to the official reports.
Chinese people are rushing to pharmacies
It’s been just revealed by the same news press agency that the Chinese residents have rushed to snap up covid antigen kits and medicines for fevers and colds. The country’s recent easing of prevention measures triggered widespread concern among the public that they could now catch the virus.
Online medicine platforms, pharmacies, and drugmakers have, in recent days, reported surging sales. For instance, the sales of antigen test kits jumped 344% in the week between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4 from the previous week.
“People around me are all buying antigen kits and I also bought 50,” said 40-year-old Beijing resident Huang Yuqi, working for an entertainment company.
“Now the country is entering a new phase in terms of pandemic policy and I’m unsure about what will happen next. We can only try to protect ourselves, so I’m also buying N95 face masks, Tylenol and Ibuprofen.”
