China’s President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic has entered a new phase following the change of strategy in December and called for continued perseverance in the face of the challenges that, he said, remain.
In an unprecedented address to the nation on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year, Xi has noted that the coronavirus outbreak has been «fierce,» but called not to throw in the towel. «The dawn is ahead,» he said, according to statements reported by Bloomberg.
Xi expressed concern about the spread of the virus in rural areas and urged local authorities to take extreme precautions and to improve medical assistance to citizens.
The Chinese government in December turned the page on the ‘zero COVID’ policy, which involved indiscriminate restrictions at the slightest suspicion of an uncontrolled outbreak. It did so after recent unprecedented social protests in China and prior to the full opening of borders.
The international community has noted with concern the spike in cases of COVID-19 and the authorities’ lack of transparency. Last weekend, the government acknowledged the deaths of nearly 60,000 people following the end of major control measures.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
