Pres. Xi-COVID Fight In New Stage, Country Still Faces Tough Tasks

MNI (London)-Chinese state media reporting comments from President Xi Jinping regarding the country's COVID-19 situation. Xi: "China's COVID prevention and control is still in a time of stress, but the light is ahead." Says that China has "Withstood multiple rounds of COVID shocks...[the] COVID fight is in a new stage" and the country "Still faces tough tasks."

• Xi: "We need to expand medical resources, increase supply of medical services and availability of medicines." States that "After optimisation of COVID prevention and control measures, I am most worried about the rural areas and farmers".
• Bloomberg reported earlier about the potential risks posed to rural areas during the mass transit of citizens during the Lunar New Year period, stating there is "...a growing chorus of warnings that while life is returning to normal in some of China’s biggest cities, rural areas will likely be hit by a wave of infections during the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday."