Despite Delta, China Hits Zero Cases With A Month Of Draconian Curbs

It was more difficult this time, even though the leaders of the world's most populous nation used the same playbook they followed to quell more than 30 previous flare-ups.

It's been just over a month, and China has once again squelched Covid-19, bringing its local cases down to zero.  It was more difficult this time, even though the leaders of the world's most populous nation used the same playbook they followed to quell more than 30 previous flare-ups. The arrival of the more infectious delta variant has raised the stakes, as the pathogen refines its ability to escape curbs and flout vaccination. It's unclear how long the victory will last.  The China model shows what it takes to get Covid under control, and raises questions about whether other nations would be willing - or able - to follow the same draconian steps.  Here's what happened between July 20, when news emerged of a cluster of infections among airport cleaning staff in the eastern city of Nanjing, and August 23, when China returned to Covid Zero.