Zero Covid policy not sustainable; shift strategy: WHO to China

BEIJING: China's much-touted dynamic zero COVID policy came under sharp criticism from the WHO which termed it unsustainable in view of the constantly changing behaviour of the Coronavirus and called on Beijing to shift its strategy.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this on Tuesday while commenting on China's zero COVID policy under which many Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, were either under lockdown or semilockdown for prolonged periods. As we all know the virus is evolving, changing its behaviour and becoming more transmissible. With that changing behaviour, changing your measures will be very important, Tedros said.

When we talk about zero COVID strategy, we don't think it is sustainable considering the behaviour of the virus now what we anticipate in the future, especially when we have now the good knowledge and understanding of the virus, he told a media briefing in Geneva. With the availability of good tools, transiting into another strategy will be very important, Tedros said in the recording of his press conference circulated by the WHO to the media.