China Has No Timetable for Easing ‘Zero-Covid’ Policy Yet, Top Epidemiologist Says

What’s new: Senior Chinese health expert Liang Wannian said the country has no timetable for easing its “zero-Covid” policy after next year’s “Two Sessions” — the annual meetings of the country’s top lawmakers and political advisers held typically in March.

Liang, head of a National Health Commission expert panel, made the remarks in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday, after several official media outlets, including the People’s Daily and the Xinhua News Agency, recently reiterated that China must stick to the policy, dashing hopes of a gradual easing after the Communist Party’s 20th National Congress, scheduled to begin on Sunday.