'China Must Boost Vaccination And Treatment Capacity'

A mainland infectious disease expert said on Thursday that he believes China’s Covid-19 strategy has shifted to freeing up medical facilities for those who are most in need of treatment.

Zhang Wenhong’s remarks came just days after mainland authorities decided to lower the threshold for discharging Covid patients, allowing them home if tests find a CT value of 35 or above, instead of 40.

A higher CT value indicates a lower viral load.

Speaking at a regular briefing in Shanghai, Zhang called this a “strategic adjustment” by mainland health officials in handling the Omicron outbreaks.

Authorities had also announced that the discharged patients will then isolate at home for one week instead of two, and they will be able to go out freely afterwards even if their test results on the seventh day show they still have a low viral load.

Zhang said relaxing discharge and isolation criteria will not increase the risk of infection.

“When the viral load is low enough, then it will not be infectious anymore,” he said.

However, he stressed the need for the nation to ramp up its vaccination efforts and treatment capability, which including using effective antivirals and Chinese medicine, saying these would be the key to tackling the virus in future.

The latest changes also see Covid patients with no or mild symptoms being sent to isolation facilities to undergo medical surveillance, so as to free up more hospital beds for the seriously ill.