While the world has largely reopened after two years of covid restrictions, China is heading in the opposite direction with tighter lockdowns.

Why?

Chinese scientists say there is a risk of 1.6 million deaths if they don’t follow the Covid Zero policy.

Without restrictions, the spread of omicron could lead to 112.2 million cases and 5.1 million hospital admissions, they estimate.

But whatever happened to China's massive vaccination drive?

The Chinese Sinovac vaccine has been found to be effective only for six months. And even then it doesn't provide sufficient antobodies to fend off omicron.

But there is another factor.

Experts don’t expect China to shift from Covid Zero until Xi Jingping secures a record third term as the nation’s top leader at the Communist Party’s national congress later this year.

In the meantime, concerns are mounting over the social and financial costs of Covid Zero, which has required harsher and harsher restrictions to combat the virus.