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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses

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Published on: November 10, 2023

Zeroing out on zero-COVID.

William C Kirby¹

¹William C. Kirby is the T.M. Chang Professor of China Studies and the Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|June 2, 2022

Summary

China faces a critical juncture with the Omicron variant, needing to transition from "zero-COVID" policies to living with the virus. Political restrictions hinder this necessary shift, impacting global isolation.

Area of Science:

Public Health
Epidemiology
Political Science

Background:

The Omicron variant's spread in Beijing necessitates a reevaluation of China's stringent "zero-COVID" strategy.
Current policies involve continuous lockdowns, which are becoming increasingly unsustainable.
The core issue is the political climate preventing open discussion on adapting to COVID-19.

Discussion:

China's historical respect for science and technological ambition contrasts with its current global isolation.
The feasibility of maintaining "zero-COVID" indefinitely is questioned.
The socio-political environment stifles necessary policy debates regarding pandemic management.

Key Insights:

The "zero-COVID" approach is unsustainable in the face of highly transmissible variants like Omicron.

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Political ideology is overriding scientific and public health considerations in China.

A transition to "living with COVID-19" is inevitable but politically challenging.

Outlook:

China must find a way to balance public health with economic and social realities.
Future pandemic strategies will likely require greater international collaboration and data sharing.
The long-term impact of China's isolation on global health and innovation remains to be seen.