Population movements in China on the occasion of the Lunar New Year could exacerbate the already complicated epidemic situation. Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was “concerned” about the situation in the country. Authorities expect more than two billion trips between January 7th and February 15th. The Year of the Rabbit begins on January 22nd.
The arrival in rural areas, which are sometimes medical deserts, of tens of millions of Chinese from cities where the Covid-19 has infected the vast majority of residents should lead to an increase in cases. According to the government, around 480 million trips have been made since January 7 (+47.1% compared to the same period last year).
Difficult care conditions
In a series of video calls Wednesday with nurses, a Covid patient or even workers, Xi Jinping expressed his concerns about the campaigns. “I am particularly concerned about the rural areas and our farmer friends, of whom there are many,” he said, according to the Xinhua News Agency. “The conditions for accessing quality medical care in rural areas are relatively limited, disease prevention and control measures are difficult to implement there, and the task is therefore difficult. »
If the cities benefit from modern medical infrastructure, the situation in rural areas is much less secure. Xi Jinping therefore called for closing the “gaps” in the fight against Covid in the countryside.