China military moves to protect troops from Covid-19 surge
- PLA commentary says ‘proper coordination’ is needed between pandemic controls and combat-readiness
- It is unknown what impact the latest wave of infections has had on Chinese forces but training must continue, the article said
There should be no “one-size-fits-all” approach to containing the outbreaks and extreme measures should be avoided, it said. At the same time, the commentary called for proper arrangements to ensure the troops received isolation care and their daily necessities.
“We have to protect the health of officers and soldiers to the greatest extent, minimise the impact of the epidemic on the ‘four orders’ of the troops [usually defined as combat-readiness, training, work and living] and ensure the troops are ready to fight at all times,” it said.
01:45
Patients in China hooked up to IV drips in their own cars as clinics are full
China is experiencing soaring Covid-19 infections, which have coincided with the first major relaxation of control measures – including shortened quarantine times for close contacts and travellers from abroad from seven to five days – since the pandemic began.
The country has also rolled back PCR testing and ended the mass lockdowns imposed on the basis of close contact tracing. The World Health Organization has said the rise in cases is not a result of China’s loosened pandemic restrictions.
