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Chinese President Xi Jinping has finally admitted the mistakes of his draconian Zero Covid policy, which failed to contain the virus and sparked the first widespread mass protests in the country in decades.
The prime minister acknowledged “unprecedented difficulties and challenges” in his New Year’s Eve address to the nation, saying it was “natural” that his tough lockdown measures would meet with resistance.
After the major unrest, Xi abandoned Zero Covid measures on December 7, but his new strategy of living with the virus has caused infections to skyrocket, with infections currently peaking in Beijing.
In the first 20 days of December, the government’s top health authority estimates that 248 million people, equivalent to 18 percent of the population, contracted the virus.
An elderly patient is pushed along a hospital emergency room corridor in Beijing, where covid infections are peaking.
Hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients, while crematoria have been struggling to cope with rising deaths, despite loyalist officials saying only one death was recorded today.
In his speech, Xi broke his silence on his sudden political turnaround last month that freed millions of people from virtual house arrest, mandatory testing, closed borders and quarantine camps.
He said China is now in a new phase of Covid control that is “optimized” to protect lives and the economy.
He said: ‘Since Covid-19 appeared, we have put people first and life first all the time.
‘With extraordinary efforts, we have overcome unprecedented difficulties and challenges, and it has not been an easy journey for anyone.
The prime minister acknowledged ‘unprecedented difficulties and challenges’ in his New Year’s Eve address to the nation.
A medical worker in a protective suit records information for a patient at the entrance of the fever clinic of Wuhan Central Hospital.
Police guard an area to prevent mass gatherings during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Wuhan
“We have now entered a new phase of response to Covid where difficult challenges remain.”
And he added: ‘What matters is that we build consensus through communication and consultation.
‘Let’s go the extra mile to get ahead, as perseverance and solidarity mean victory.’
The speech was a major change from the celebratory tone of October when he secured a third term in power at his party’s congress.
Now the country could see up to 25,000 deaths a day from the virus in January, research firm Airfinity Ltd has said.
Some 9,000 people in China are likely to die each day, while cumulative deaths since December 1 have likely reached 100,000, with infections at 18.6 million, they said.
Britain-based Airfinity expects China’s cases to hit their first peak on January 13 with 3.7 million daily infections.
Elderly patients rest in a cordoned off area to be given intravenous drips at a Beijing hospital.
The abrupt end to testing and other measures came as hospitals were inundated with feverish and wheezing Covid-19 patients.
But Chinese officials say there have been just 5,250 deaths during the entire pandemic, compared with more than 1 million in the US and 11,000 in neighboring Hong Kong, out of a population of 7.4 million.
China has said it only counts patient deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure as related to Covid.
The relatively low death count is also inconsistent with the growing demand reported by funeral homes in several cities.
Among those who gathered to go sledding or ice skate on a frozen lake in the capital’s Shichahai Lake Park, there were some optimists about lifting the restrictions.
“After the end of this lockdown, we no longer have to scan the health code, nor do we have to check the travel code,” said one of those in the park, Yang, who gave only a name.
‘So now we are free.’
Also at the lake was Zhong, a 22-year-old college student, who said he had stayed home for two to three weeks after becoming infected.
The country could see up to 25,000 deaths a day from the virus in January, research firm Airfinity Ltd said.
Chinese authorities say only 5,250 deaths have been recorded during the entire pandemic
Hospitals have been filled with patients, while crematoria have been struggling to cope with the surge of deaths.
“Now I can go out and it’s a good time for the New Year’s Day vacation,” he added. “I want to take a walk around Beijing, take a look and feel the festive atmosphere.”
Monday was a public holiday, but traffic in the capital has picked up again in recent days as people flock to outdoor venues. However, business is still slow in some smaller, more confined places, like restaurants.
The owner of a Beijing seafood restaurant said customers had not returned in full force.
“I hope this situation continues through the Lunar New Year holiday,” said Chen, who gave only his last name. “I am counting on business to be more normal after the holidays.”
In the central city of Wuhan, where the pandemic began three years ago, people were no longer so anxious, a man surnamed Wu told Reuters.
“Work output, life and entertainment are returning to normal levels,” added Wu, a tutor at a private training center.
China’s biggest holiday, Lunar New Year, begins on January 21 this year, when the rail network is expected to carry 5.5 million passengers, state broadcaster CCTV said.
As holiday travel expectations rise, authorities at Tibet’s spectacular Potala Palace said it would open for visitors from January 3, after closing last August due to an outbreak.
Some hotels in the southern tourist hub of Sanya are fully booked for the Lunar New Year, media said.
In recent days, state media have tried to reassure the public that the outbreak was under control and nearing its peak.
Citing researchers, news outlet Caixin said on Sunday that the infections in the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chongqing are close to ending.
But the infections will peak in the urban regions of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai in the second half of January, they added.
More than 80 percent of people living in southwestern Sichuan have been infected, the province’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.