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. 2020 Dec;9(4):639-648.
doi: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.08.006. Epub 2020 Aug 27.

COVID-19 pandemic in China: Context, experience and lessons

Weiwei Xu  1 , Jing Wu  2 , Lidan Cao  2
Affiliations

COVID-19 pandemic in China: Context, experience and lessons

Weiwei Xu et al. Health Policy Technol. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

The first cluster of COVID-19 cases was reported in Wuhan, China on December 29th, 2019. Since then, China has experienced a pandemic of COVID-19.

Objective: This study aims to present the context in which the pandemic has evolved, the government's response and the pandemic's impact on public health and national economy.

Methods: A review was conducted to collect relevant data from press releases and government reports.

Results: COVID-19 poses a major public health threat on China with a cumulative number of cases over 89,000 (data cut-off date: August 9th, 2020). Between January and February 2020, China implemented a series of escalating policies (including a stringent nation-wide lockdown) to combat the pandemic. Therefore, it has been to a large extent limited to the Wuhan region. Social media such as WeChat and SinaWeibo played a crucial role in disseminating government information and public campaigns during the pandemic. Technologies were adopted to enable contact tracing and population travel patterns. The Chinese central government mobilized healthcare resources including healthcare personnel and medical materials to Wuhan in a highly effective way. Both central and regional governments launched financial policies to stimulate the economy, including special loans, tax extension, reduction or waiver. Nevertheless, the economy in China was significantly impacted especially during the lockdown period.

Conclusions: China has responded to the COVID-19 epidemic in a highly centralized and effective way. Balancing the needs to prevent a future pandemic and to boost economic recovery remains a challenge.

Keywords: COVID-19; China; Impact; Policy; Technology.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of newly decreased, recovered, confirmed cases per day in China , and by region . Note: 1. On January 27th and 28th, data regarding newly recovered in Wuhan and the rest of China is unavailable. 2. Between February 12th and 19th, the authority adopted a loose definition for confirmed case compared to the other time points. This leads to a sudden increase of newly confirmed cases in Wuhan during this week. 3. The number of suspected cases was reported in Wuhan staring from February 12th.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cumulative number of decreased, recovered and confirmed cases in China , and by region . Note: 1. Before February12nd, data regarding recovered cases in Wuhan and the rest of China is unavailable; 2. On April 16th, confirmed, deceased and recovered cases were revised in Wuhan.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The number of cumulative and daily imported cases from oversea in China .
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Measures against COVID-19 pandemic in China.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Stock market reactions to major events.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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