China grapples with a rash of coronavirus infections after easing its strict controls
LA TimesA rash of COVID-19 cases in schools and businesses was reported by social media users Friday across China after the ruling Communist Party loosened anti-virus rules as it tries to reverse a deepening economic slump. “There’s very few people coming in because there’s so many cases,” said Gang Xueping, a waitress in a Beijing restaurant. Half of the company’s people are out sick, but they still won’t let us all stay home,” said a post signed “Tunnel Mouth” on the popular Sina Weibo platform. Relaxing coronavirus controls “will lead to greater outbreaks,” Neil Thomas and Laura Gloudeman of Eurasia Group said in a report, “but Beijing is unlikely to return to the extended blanket lockdowns that crashed the economy earlier this year.” The changes suggest that the ruling party is easing away from its goal of preventing virus transmission, the basis of its zero-tolerance policy, but officials say that strategy still is in effect.