It is the end of a long pursued zero-Covid strategy: In the Asia-Pacific region, several countries have given up their strict measures and have returned to everyday life. The motto is new: a life without a virus is practically impossible, you have to learn to live with it.
South Korea: Despite around 2000 new infections daily, the measures will be relaxed from Monday. Curfews end, return to almost all workplaces and private gatherings of up to ten people are allowed.
Japan: Bars and restaurants have reopened in Japan’s capital, Tokyo. Despite hundreds of new cases across the country every day.
Australia: Where previously there was a strict border regime, vaccinated people are sometimes allowed to re-enter. Family members who haven’t seen each other for up to two years can finally embrace each other again.
New Zealand: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (41) has so far quarantined entire large cities immediately if a case has been found. But since the delta variant appeared, the measures no longer show the desired result. Now she has given up the zero covid strategy. Ardern: “Thanks to the vaccinations, we can now start to change our strategy. We have reason to be optimistic about the future. “
Thailand: The country with a low vaccination rate of 42 percent allows people from countries with low risk and high vaccination rates to enter without quarantine.
China seals off
The big exception is China, like CNN reported. The country where Covid was discovered almost two years ago remains determined to eliminate the virus within its borders. Despite a high vaccination rate of over 75 percent, China is sticking to its strict zero-Covid strategy.
Closed borders, lengthy quarantine measures for all entries from abroad and immediate local bans in the event of an outbreak still apply in China. The city of Lanzhou with four million inhabitants was blocked on Tuesday after only six Covid cases had been reported.
China’s zero-covid strategy has also hit the country’s largest amusement park: After a corona case, Disneyland in Shanghai was closed immediately, and thousands of visitors had to wait for hours.
A change in Chinese policy is not in sight. Even though some members of the health authority suggest a slow opening once a vaccination rate of 85 percent is reached, observers believe there will be no change in the next twelve months.
Live with the virus
South Korea was one of the first countries to have a severe Covid outbreak. With its strict measures, it also had early success in keeping the virus in check. The Delta variant appeared until mid-2021. Delta had prompted almost all countries to rely on vaccinations and adjust to living with the virus instead of putting all their efforts into eliminating it.
Zhengming Chen, professor of epidemiology at Oxford University, says on CNN that the delta variant can hardly be eradicated. Chen: “The experiences in Australia and New Zealand show that you have tried very hard, but you come to a point where you just can’t go any further if you isolate yourself. It will come up again and again. ” (gf)