Editorial: As China Shifts From Preventing to Treating Covid, It Needs the Same Fighting Spirit

With the gradual optimization of Covid prevention and control policies, China is experiencing a surge in infections, creating an increasing strain on health care provision. During a Covid-related visit in Beijing on Dec. 13, Sun Chunlan, vice premier of the State Council, stressed the need for strengthened overall coordination and a change in attitude. According to Sun, the government should shift the focus from the prevention and control of new infections to treating the infected, protecting people’s health, preventing severe cases, ensuring a stable transition of prevention and control, and effectively coordinating Covid prevention and control with economic and social development. She emphasized that guaranteeing access to health care and medicine must be the top priority. Sun’s statements are of great practical significance. Governments at all levels, communities and social organizations should apply the same level of commitment to guaranteeing health care service availability for the infected as they had for virus prevention and control.