For nearly three years, China had one of the lowest coronavirus death rates in the world, thanks to its strict yet effective “zero Covid” approach.

But last month, the government suddenly abandoned the policy. Since then, there have been millions of coronavirus cases across the country.

Guest: Alexandra Stevenson, the Shanghai bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• After micromanaging the coronavirus strategy for nearly three years, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has suddenly left people to improvise.
• China said that it recorded nearly 60,000 fatalities linked to the coronavirus in the month since the country lifted the “zero Covid” policy.

For more information on today’s episode, visit

nytimes.com/thedaily

. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.



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