China grapples with Covid challenges

By Agence France-Presse

Dec 10, 2022 12:11 am

BEIJING: China is finally beating a retreat from its strict zero-Covid policy, but low vaccination rates among its elderly have seeded fears that the coronavirus could kill as many as 2.1 million people.

Around a third of Chinese ages 80 and above have not yet received a full course of vaccines, compared with under 10 percent of the population as a whole.

INSIDIOUS OPPONENT A health worker takes a swab sample from a woman to test for the Covid-19 coronavirus in the Huangpu district in Shanghai on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. China announced a nationwide loosening of its hardline Covid restrictions that had hammered the world’s second-biggest economy and ignited rare protests against the ruling Communist Party. AFP PHOTO

Already have an active account? Log in here to continue reading.
Or
Subscribe to the Premium Subscription plan to access this subscriber-exclusive article.

Related Articles

Pope Francis departs for Papua New Guinea

Kishida makes farewell visit to South Korea

Super typhoon Yagi heads toward China

11 killed in Myanmar junta airstrikes

Hamas urges US to press Israel for truce

Zelenskyy in Germany to rally Ukraine's allies

Suspect's father in US school shooting arrested