Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy period

Abstract During the pandemic, China’s dynamic zero-COVID policy received much support and criticism simultaneously. In 2022, most Chinese cities of medium to large size had to conduct regular mass testing, leading to a sort of 48-h/48 h COVID-19 testing regime that financially affected many local go...

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Main Authors: Ali Cheshmehzangi, Zhaohui Su, Tong Zou, Zaheer Allam, Tian Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-01-01
Series:Discover Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00425-9
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author Ali Cheshmehzangi
Zhaohui Su
Tong Zou
Zaheer Allam
Tian Tang
author_facet Ali Cheshmehzangi
Zhaohui Su
Tong Zou
Zaheer Allam
Tian Tang
author_sort Ali Cheshmehzangi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract During the pandemic, China’s dynamic zero-COVID policy received much support and criticism simultaneously. In 2022, most Chinese cities of medium to large size had to conduct regular mass testing, leading to a sort of 48-h/48 h COVID-19 testing regime that financially affected many local governments. Aside from financial implications and challenges, cities also faced spatial, institutional, and operational challenges. This practice stayed in place for months, and a territorial approach was considered in mass testing methods. Therefore, in this brief commentary paper, we look at the impacts at the city level, mainly that they had to be adaptive and dynamic during regular changes and policy formations at the national and provincial levels. The implementation that ought to occur at the municipal/city government level indicates multiple pressures beyond just financial challenges. During this period, cities’ debt increased and affected the provision or allocation of funding for other operations. This brief study shed light on these challenges from the development perspective, allowing us to reflect on some of the earlier issues and prepare better for any future events of such kind. The study contributes to previous and ongoing debate on city-level management, administrative support, and adaptive thinking in daily operations, particularly during disruptive events such as pandemics.
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series Discover Public Health
spelling doaj-art-a4a87b04c69143a7b27018e970becb2c2025-02-02T12:09:05ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-01-012211410.1186/s12982-025-00425-9Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy periodAli Cheshmehzangi0Zhaohui Su1Tong Zou2Zaheer Allam3Tian Tang4School of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of QueenslandSchool of Public Health, Institute for Human Rights, Southeast UniversityFood System Sustainability Laboratory, Alma Mater Studiorum Universita Di BolognaSchool of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of QueenslandIndependent Researcher, Sichuan and ChongqingAbstract During the pandemic, China’s dynamic zero-COVID policy received much support and criticism simultaneously. In 2022, most Chinese cities of medium to large size had to conduct regular mass testing, leading to a sort of 48-h/48 h COVID-19 testing regime that financially affected many local governments. Aside from financial implications and challenges, cities also faced spatial, institutional, and operational challenges. This practice stayed in place for months, and a territorial approach was considered in mass testing methods. Therefore, in this brief commentary paper, we look at the impacts at the city level, mainly that they had to be adaptive and dynamic during regular changes and policy formations at the national and provincial levels. The implementation that ought to occur at the municipal/city government level indicates multiple pressures beyond just financial challenges. During this period, cities’ debt increased and affected the provision or allocation of funding for other operations. This brief study shed light on these challenges from the development perspective, allowing us to reflect on some of the earlier issues and prepare better for any future events of such kind. The study contributes to previous and ongoing debate on city-level management, administrative support, and adaptive thinking in daily operations, particularly during disruptive events such as pandemics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00425-948 h COVID-19Zero-COVID policyCOVID-19Mass testingResilienceFinancial pressure
spellingShingle Ali Cheshmehzangi
Zhaohui Su
Tong Zou
Zaheer Allam
Tian Tang
Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy period
Discover Public Health
48 h COVID-19
Zero-COVID policy
COVID-19
Mass testing
Resilience
Financial pressure
title Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy period
title_full Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy period
title_fullStr Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy period
title_full_unstemmed Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy period
title_short Lessons from China’s 48-h COVID-19 testing regime during the dynamic zero COVID policy period
title_sort lessons from china s 48 h covid 19 testing regime during the dynamic zero covid policy period
topic 48 h COVID-19
Zero-COVID policy
COVID-19
Mass testing
Resilience
Financial pressure
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00425-9
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