China lacked a ‘zero COVID’ exit strategy. Its people are paying the price.

Shanghai – Nora, a 30-year-old doctor, works at a public hospital in Shanghai, where tensions have mounted since China eased its strict “zero COVID” policy on Dec. 7.

Patients wrestle with doctors to obtain missing medicines, such as cough medicine and pain relievers. Healthcare workers are overloaded and infected staff continue to work due to understaffing.

“The policies to control COVID have been relaxed very suddenly,” said Nora, who declined to give her full name because the issue is sensitive. “Hospitals should have been notified in advance to be well prepared.”