Zero-covid

Though probably always unsustainable in the long run, Omicron and its extremely transmissible subvariants have once and for all rendered a “zero-covid” policy untenable. Nevertheless, China continues to insist on its massive quarantine and testing regime with prolonged lockdowns in Shanghai and other cities.

After isolating itself from the world during the first two years of the pandemic, Covid has now officially come to North Korea which, contrary to all reason, appears to want to emulate the Chinese response. Considering North Korea’s extremely limited testing capacity, and the high number of asymptomatic cases, a zero-covid policy is obviously a no-starter and will only bring more harm to its already fragile economy. Were it not for the human suffering involved, one would perhaps welcome this as it might hasten the demise of the Kim Family Regime, yet, given the regime’s utter disregard for the suffering of its own people, I would not put my hopes too high.

Meanwhile in Tomtebo, William has come down with a cold so our plans for a family excursion to Navet were dashed. Instead, I went for a faster run around the lake, managing to just evade the rain, before making an avocado toast at home while Anna went up to work.