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Here's Why Coronavirus Cases Are Surging in China

The removal of China's “Zero-COVID” containment policies render its people vulnerable to the virus.

BySam Walters
Credit: IHOR SULYATYTSKYY/Shutterstock

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Though the country's commitment to stamping out any and all coronavirus cases remained strong only a couple of months ago, China is currently caught in one of the world's worst viral waves since the start of the pandemic. In fact, some scientists speculate that as many as 800 million individuals, or 60 percent of China's population, could catch the virus throughout the course of the surge, and some say that as many as one million could succumb to their sickness.

So, why are coronavirus cases surging so severely in China right now?

The reason, specialists say, is that the country's insufficient immunity and medical infrastructure are sapping its ability to fight the virus off.

Up until around a month ago, Chinese authorities made it their mission to suppress the coronavirus completely, applying an aggressive and “unsustainable” approach revolving around testing requirements, travel restrictions, quarantines and shutdowns. But the sudden abandonment ...

  • Sam Walters

    Sam Walters is the associate editor at Discover Magazine who writes and edits articles covering topics like archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution, and manages a few print magazine sections.

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