As the Beijing authorities no longer adhere to the zero-clearing policy and significantly loosen the epidemic prevention policy, the Chinese people have begun to learn to live with the virus. Social networking sites are full of photos of the results of the rapid screening, as well as posts detailing the symptoms and recording the process of the epidemic.
In the past three years, under the zero-zero policy implemented by the authorities at all costs, infection has become a taboo, and recovered patients face employment discrimination and social exclusion. Now that the government has almost abandoned the eradication policy, the epidemic is no longer taboo, and many people have begun to share their experiences on the Internet.
Agence France-Presse reported that a Beijing resident wrote on Xiaohongshu, the Chinese version of Instagram: “On the third day back to the office, I will soon test positive.” Attached is a photo of her rapid antigen test results.
“I have a bit of a fever right now,” wrote another user, amid thousands of similar posts over the past week.
Mm, an internet celebrity in Beijing’s Little Red Book, also shared her experience of contracting the epidemic, advising readers: “It’s really not scary at all, adjust your attitude and drink more water.”
Various folk remedies and home remedies have also been released.
Some people suggest that oranges can be steamed with some salt, which can soothe a sore throat. Some people also said that canned yellow peaches, which they often ate when they were sick, were effective, forcing the official media to jump out and remind the public that eating yellow peaches can keep their minds safe, but it cannot fight the virus.
Celebrities and public figures have also joined the frenzy to report their experiences, with real estate tycoon Wang Shi also revealing to his 22 million followers last week that he had contracted the virus asymptomatically.
All kinds of memes (Meme) are also spreading wildly on the Internet. “Previously: Buying vegetables, etc. are banned; now: Buying medicine, etc. have a fever.” The post was also widely reposted on Weibo.
After years of authorities emphasizing the dangers of contracting the disease, the shift in online winds in China reflects efforts by state media and state propaganda to downplay the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak in an attempt to reassure the public.
Still, China will face a spike in cases, with millions of its elderly unvaccinated and at risk of contracting the highly contagious Omicron variant.
And sharing the experience of the epidemic may also have the opposite effect. Beijing Radio and Television reporter Lu Ziyuan shared his experience of being hospitalized for mild illness this week and was scolded on the Internet.
Angry Weibo netizens criticized Lu Ziyuan for occupying medical resources, and the hashtag “Lv Ziyuan gave up the hospital bed” was once on the Weibo hot search list.
