Healthcare

Demonstrators gather outside Zhongshan park to protest changes to medical benefits in Wuhan, China, 15 February 2023 in this still image from social media video obtained by Reuters. (Social media/Reuters)

China’s silent healthcare insurance reform triggers protests among elderly

Recent changes to China’s medical insurance system have received backlash from its elderly population, who fear that their reduced incomes and increased medical expenses will make healthcare unaffordable for them. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing looks at how the reforms will be implemented and their impact on the people.
People visit a traditional Spring Festival flower market which reopened after closure due to the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, on 20 January 2023. (AFP)

Is China finally seeing the end of the pandemic?

Despite worries that Covid infections would rise sharply after the Chinese New Year period, statistics show that earlier fears were unfounded. The sudden change has netizens speculating if “solar storms” helped to quell the virus. Can China really expect clearer skies ahead?
People at the market in Zhangjiajie, 8 January 2023.

How a rural village of elderly residents is coping with Covid-19 during CNY

With Chinese New Year around the corner, the wave of human movement during the period could trigger a fresh wave of Covid-19 in China, not least in the rural areas with its villages and less than readily available healthcare. Zaobao correspondent Wong Siew Fong recounts her visit to a rural area in Zhangjiajie to find out if the rural villages are prepared to handle a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Commuters at a subway station in Shanghai, China, on 3 January 2023. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

For better or worse: China's dash towards post-Covid normalcy

The ill-prepared nature of China’s opening up has led to a sudden rise in infections. While major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have seemingly traversed this peak and are showing signs of economic recovery, China as a whole still has some ways to go, especially in addressing the people’s needs. Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong tells us more.
Commuters ride an escalator in Shanghai, China, on 20 December 2022. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

How China bolted from zero Covid towards herd immunity

China has announced the long-awaited transition from zero Covid to opening up, as inbound travel measures ease and mandatory quarantines are removed. However, the process will not be easy as medical resources are short and vaccination rates among the elderly are still low. Will China be able to handle the internal and external pressures of what is to follow after opening up? Zaobao correspondent Yang Danxu tells us more.
People line up to buy antigen test kits for Covid-19, at a pharmacy in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, 19 December 2022. (China Daily via Reuters)

China prepares for Covid peaks in January

With the easing of Covid controls in China, many cities and provinces are seeing a sharp spike in cases. This wave is generally expected to peak in January next year, especially with the Chinese New Year travel wave. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Liu Liu takes a look at the possible direction and responses.
This photo taken on 10 December 2022 shows passengers arriving at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. (AFP)

Chinese economy in 2023: Worse before it gets better

As Chinese officials review the year’s economic work and set the tone for macroeconomic policies in the coming year, Han Yong Hong assesses that the new team formed after the 20th Party Congress will have its work cut out reviving the Chinese economy amid tough challenges.
A closed Covid testing booth in Beijing, China, on 13 December 2022. (Bloomberg)

From zero-Covid to living with the virus: Chinese society's adaptability put to the test

Following the protests against harsh Covid measures, China seems to be going from strict lockdowns to opening up and relaxing controls almost overnight. While the health system is under strain and nerves are wrecked, the Chinese people have shown that they are quite capable of adapting to change, especially if large cities like Beijing lead the way.
Health workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) carry barricades inside a residential community that just opened after a lockdown due to Covid-19 restrictions in Beijing, China, on 9 December 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP)

China’s reopening will not lead to a million deaths

Chinese academic Zhang Tiankan explains why some estimates that China's reopening without safeguards could result in 1.5 million to 2 million deaths is improbable if one looks at the facts. Such predictions could cause public alarm and mislead policy making.