With the gradual optimization of Covid prevention and control policies, China is experiencing a surge in infections, creating an increasing strain on health care provision. During a Covid-related visit in Beijing on Dec. 13, Sun Chunlan, vice premier of the State Council, stressed the need for strengthened overall coordination and a change in attitude. According to Sun, the government should shift the focus from the prevention and control of new infections to treating the infected, protecting people’s health, preventing severe cases, ensuring a stable transition of prevention and control, and effectively coordinating Covid prevention and control with economic and social development. She emphasized that guaranteeing access to health care and medicine must be the top priority. Sun’s statements are of great practical significance. Governments at all levels, communities and social organizations should apply the same level of commitment to guaranteeing health care service availability for the infected as they had for virus prevention and control.
After the policy optimization, several regions are, as expected, seeing surges in Covid-19 infections. This is inevitable, and no cause for fear or concern, provided that the relevant departments are fully prepared. The vast majority of infected persons are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and do not need to be hospitalized, though they still should be accorded basic medication and other resources. On the other hand, given the country’s large population, there will be many falling critically ill and requiring timely health care services. In Beijing, the fever clinics of some hospitals are already overcrowded, and antipyretics and antigen detection kits in short supply. This alarming situation in the capital, one of the cities with the most ample health care resources in China, hints at what could happen in other places should they suffer a large-scale surge in infections. Even in areas where the Covid situation remains relatively stable, online and offline drug stores have been running out of inventory, reflecting growing panic among the people. Given the capacity of China’s pharmaceutical industry, these shortages should not be occurring. This status quo must be reversed as quickly as possible in order to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of prevention and control measures.
