China’s ‘Zero-Covid’ Strategy Can Protect Country Against Omicron, Top Experts Say

International check-in counters stand empty as several airlines stopped flying out of South Africa, amidst the spread of the new variant omicron at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 28. Photo: The Paper

China’s “zero-Covid” strategy can deal with the new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant omicron and prevent it from spreading across the nation, according to leading Chinese experts, as the virus triggered a new wave of travel restrictions in many other countries around the world.

The virus, which was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by South Africa on Wednesday, was detected around the world over the weekend, prompting Japan and Israel to ban all foreigners from entering their countries and many others to impose varying degrees of travel restrictions to keep it out.