Covid-19: China celebrates its New Year despite the epidemic in the background


Sébastien Le Belzic (in Beijing)

China entered the year of the Rabbit tonight, the occasion for great celebrations across the country and family reunions for the traditional banquets, the first in three years. The lifting of health measures has allowed China to celebrate the Lunar New Year, but the Covid-19 is on everyone’s mind.

China enters the Year of the Rabbit today with big shows, concerts, fireworks and dragon dances. The party lasted all night and will continue for two weeks to the delight of many Chinese people like this lady who met in a market set up at the foot of a temple. “It’s beautiful, I feel lots of vibes. I went to all the booths and took pictures. You really feel the atmosphere of the Spring Festival, it makes me feel good.”

“It makes us very happy”

Because it is the first time in three years that the party has taken place without any health restrictions linked to Covid-19. This other resident remembers those three difficult years. “We were locked up, it was really hard. But now, since everyone has already had Covid, we can have a normal Chinese New Year. It makes us very happy,” she says.

Normal or almost. If 80% of the population has already been infected with Covid, the authorities fear that these major New Year’s celebrations and the two billion journeys planned this month across the country will cause a new deadly wave, especially in the countryside. .



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