The Intelligence from The Economist The city that never slips: Beijing and covid
May 24, 2022
David Rennie, Beijing bureau chief for The Economist, dives deep into China’s zero-COVID policy and the delicate balancing act faced by leaders in Beijing. He highlights the challenges of potential lockdowns and the implications for the city’s residents. Meanwhile, Simon Rabinovich, U.S. economics editor, exposes the alarming baby formula shortage in America, dissecting its roots in supply chain issues and market concentration. The discussion also touches upon Turkmenistan's restrictive laws on women's rights, showcasing contrasting governance approaches.
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Beijing's COVID Dilemma
- Beijing's COVID cases are rising, creating a dilemma for Chinese leaders.
- A lockdown would damage their image, but uncontrolled spread could be disastrous.
Life in Beijing
- David Rennie describes Beijing as strangely quiet with constant COVID announcements.
- Residents face high-tech surveillance, work-from-home orders, and frequent testing.
Zero-COVID Challenges
- China's zero-COVID strategy, effective against previous variants, is struggling with Omicron's infectiousness.
- Their approach involves extensive contact tracing and quarantines, even for single cases.