Chinese newspaper praises Covid Zero again, dashing easing hopes

Local authorities are under pressure to get Covid-19 flareups under control ahead of the Chinese Communist Party Congress. - Reuters

BEIJING (Bloomberg): The Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper endorsed the country’s Covid Zero policy for the second day in a row, dousing hopes that President Xi Jinping will relax controls soon after a key political meeting starting later this week.

Covid Zero is "sustainable” and the country must stick to the policy because it’s key to stabilizing the economy and protecting lives, the People’s Daily said in a commentary Tuesday. It follows a similar article Monday labeling the policy as "scientific and effective.”