China’s strict zero Covid-19 policy may be rolling back, but chaos has taken its place instead.
In Beijing, relief over the widespread re-opening has quickly turned to fear as residents are staying home, many shops are closed, and streets remain empty.
Only the drugstores are busy with customers flocking to bulk-buy flu medicine.
Just a few weeks ago, the country’s officials still praised the zero-COVID-19 policy as “scientific” and bound to “pass the test of history” with draconian measures like locking down an entire community over one infection.
Suddenly, they’re saying COVID-19 isn’t a big deal.