As COVID cases rise in China, people stock up on medicine and medical equipment at home

Photo for representation. AFP

New Delhi: Since China abandoned its zero covid policy, the population has witnessed a massive increase in infections. People’s fear drives them to buy medicines and medical equipment at home.

According to an article in the South China Morning Post, people are buying drugs on the black market, even taking antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.

The report also states that medical shortages have also been a boon for middlemen who can source generic drugs from India.

China faces bumpy road to normal as infections rise

China is on a bumpy road to normal life as people return to schools, malls and restaurants after the abrupt end of some of the world’s toughest restrictions, even as hospitals are overwhelmed with feverish patients and hisses of COVID-19.

“Many are still watching because they are afraid of getting infected,” Li said. “Restaurant dinner can be postponed for now.”

The ruling Communist Party began dropping testing, quarantine and other restrictions in November as it tried to reverse a deepening economic crisis.

The “zero COVID” strategy confined millions of families to their homes for weeks, halted most travel to and from China and emptied the busy streets of major cities. That kept its infection rate low but crushed economic growth and fueled protests.

The ruling party is set to join the United States and other governments in trying to live with the disease instead of eradicating transmission. He has launched a campaign to vaccinate the elderly, which experts say is needed to prevent a public health crisis.

Members of the public expressed unease with the wave of infections but welcomed the change in strategy.

“I’m certainly a little worried, but to live, you have to be able to work normally, right?” said Yue Hongzhu, 40, a supermarket manager.

“Since the government allowed the opening, that means it’s not that bad, right?” Yue said. “If the virus was highly contagious and everyone’s life was in danger, the government wouldn’t let go.”

On Tuesday, the government announced it would ease restrictions on travel outside China and resume issuing passports for tourist travel for the first time in nearly three years. This creates a possible flood of Chinese travelers heading abroad at a time when other governments are alarmed by rising infections.

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