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Although the nation’s communist regime exerted massive power over the population in order to keep the spread of COVID-19 as low as possible, ordinary citizens began to rise up in protest of the draconian mitigation measures.
Now, the virus is beginning to move throughout communities across the country as the world frets about the possibility that it will result in a new, potentially more dangerous variant.
A disastrous, dangerous policy
China attracted widespread backlash for its so-called “Zero COVID” strategy, which resulted in negative consequences on a global scale. Here are a few of the most egregious side effects:
- A worsening strain on supply chains and a shortage of materials
- Reports of Chinese citizens being held prisoner in their homes, or worse yet, placed in COVID-19 camps
- A dangerous shortage of necessary medications and hospital supplies across China
While protests resulted in the government’s decision to scale back some of the more drastic policies, the public criticism also revealed cracks in leader Xi Jinping’s grip on power.
Citizens become more outspoken
After years of being told exactly what they could and could not do by government officials, critics now say that the communist regime has gone in the other direction. Although people like Mr. Yang are still worried about retribution (which is why he won’t reveal his full name), they are increasingly willing to speak out against local and national leaders.
“No one is in charge now,” he said, explaining that his daughter’s school is almost empty because kids are either sick with COVID or afraid of contracting the virus.
Mr. Yang explained that there is no more universal testing, so people are showing up to work with COVID symptoms. Furthermore, he said it is impossible to find the tests and medications that people need to monitor and treat illnesses.
