On October 16, the couple, who had planned to visit the Terracotta Warriors, tested positive for the coronavirus. As a result, China has implemented lockdown measures in a city of 4 million people, as well as in several smaller cities and parts of Beijing, in order to control a recent outbreak that has affected over 240 individuals in at least 11 provinces and regions. Schools and tourist sites have been closed, and government websites have provided detailed information about the couple's movements and their contacts. This strict response reflects China's "zero COVID" policy, which has been successful in keeping the country's death toll from the pandemic to fewer than 5,000. The size of the recent outbreak in China may be small compared to other countries, but it is significant for China. However, China's policy of pursuing full eradication of the virus is now seen as unusual, as other countries like New Zealand and Australia are reopening and moving away from zero tolerance measures. Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission, emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance against imported cases and preventing any resurgence of the virus. The existing control measures cannot be eased. The government's stringent approach is based on specific Chinese considerations. Strong exports have supported the economy. The Communist Party's strong control allows for efficient lockdowns and testing. Beijing will hold the Winter Olympics in February. Low case numbers have become a source of national pride for many Chinese people. Xi Jinping, China's leader, has highlighted the country's successful containment efforts as evidence of the effectiveness of its governing system. However, experts in China and internationally have cautioned that this strategy may not be sustainable. China could face increasing isolation on diplomatic and economic fronts as global public opinion turns against it. According to Lynette Ong, a political scientist at the University of Toronto, the Chinese regime believes it must maintain a "zero COVID" policy to retain legitimacy, even at a significant cost. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Chinese Communist Party's grip on power appeared to rely heavily on its ability to manage the virus. The initial efforts to conceal the outbreak in Wuhan led to a significant public backlash, with images of hospitals in crisis and patients in desperate need of assistance circulating on Chinese social media. However, as the virus spread globally, China's strict lockdown measures and widespread testing were praised and adopted by other nations. While Western democracies faced increasing death tolls, Xi Jinping highlighted China's success in quickly controlling the spread of the virus. There was initial anger over the response to the outbreak in Wuhan, which was followed by strong nationalism. Countries that implemented "zero COVID" policies were praised for prioritizing saving lives over convenience and economic growth. As the virus continues into its second year and the more contagious delta variant emerges, nations are reevaluating their approaches. Australia, which had the longest lockdown, is removing quarantine rules for vaccinated citizens returning from abroad. New Zealand recently gave up on its zero-COVID goal. Singapore is allowing vaccinated tourists from countries like Germany, the United States, and France to travel without quarantine. However, China has decided not to make any changes to its current policies. Zhang Wenhong, an infectious disease expert from Shanghai, faced harsh criticism when he suggested that China should adapt to living with the virus. A former health minister in China labeled this mindset as irresponsible. Ong believes that the Chinese government is hesitant to face any opposition to its belief in successfully overcoming the pandemic. She stated that outbreaks have become so common that they are considered unimportant, but the Chinese government aims to control any potential sources of instability. There are practical reasons for China's cautious approach, such as the concentration of medical resources in large cities and the possibility of remote areas being overwhelmed by an increase in cases. Zhang Jun, an urban studies expert at the City University of Hong Kong, highlighted these concerns. Despite achieving a high full vaccination rate of 75%, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of China's domestically produced vaccines. However, the strategy of eliminating outbreaks seems to have public backing, at least for now. Residents in areas under lockdown have criticized the strict social media restrictions, but travel remains unrestricted in areas without cases. Wealthy individuals are spending money on luxury items and cars instead of trips abroad. Some believe that the strict COVID-zero policy does not seem too harsh as long as there is still some freedom of movement. Singapore, for example, lifted restrictions in the summer but reinstated them in September due to a rise in infections, showing that governments may change their approach to living with the virus. However, the government is continuing to implement travel lanes. Despite this, experts believe that the expenses of aiming for zero cases will eventually become apparent. China's economic expansion is decelerating, with domestic travel decreasing during a recent weeklong holiday compared to the previous year due to concerns about new cases. Retail sales have been inconsistent, fluctuating along with the virus outbreaks. Additionally, there may be diplomatic repercussions for the country. Xi has remained in China since early 2020 and has not had any foreign visitors, while other world leaders are preparing to gather in Rome and Glasgow. China's strict approach is also affecting Hong Kong, where leaders are implementing long quarantine measures to align with the mainland's COVID prevention policies, despite concerns from business leaders about foreign firms leaving. Some individuals, like Jason Qiu, believe the current policies are necessary but question whether there is a clear exit strategy. "If the current situation persists for an extended period, such as if the pandemic continues for another five or 10 years or becomes endemic, it may be necessary to consider implementing some changes," officials have suggested the possibility of easing restrictions cautiously in response to these concerns. Gao Fu, the director of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, raised the question of why the country shouldn't reopen once an 85% vaccination rate is achieved, but also highlighted the sensitivity of the issue. In the meantime, individuals affected by lockdowns are making the most of their circumstances. For instance, approximately 10,000 tourists are stuck in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia, due to lockdown measures following the emergence of cases. To provide some comfort, the local tourism association has promised them complimentary access to three popular tourist sites within the next three years. Copyright 2021 by The New York Times Company.