China’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’

<p>For nearly three years, China had one of the lowest coronavirus death rates in the world, thanks to its strict yet effective “zero Covid” approach.</p><p>But last month, the government suddenly abandoned the policy. Since then, there have been millions of coronavirus cases across the country.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/alexandra-stevenson?smid=pc-thedaily">Alexandra Stevenson</a>, the Shanghai bureau chief for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>After micromanaging the coronavirus strategy for nearly three years, China’s leader, Xi Jinping,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/19/world/asia/china-zero-covid-xi-jinping.html"> has suddenly left people to improvise</a>.</li><li>China said that it <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/14/world/asia/china-60000-covid-deaths.html">recorded nearly 60,000 fatalities linked to the coronavirus</a> in the month since the country lifted the “zero Covid” policy.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit </p><p><a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a></p><p>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>