Side Effects of China's 'Zero COVID' Policy? ... Three-Year-Old Dies as Ambulance Fails to Arrive

Public Security Bureau Handles Incident as Simple Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Sparking Controversy
“Was It Because of Quarantine Controls That They Couldn’t Respond?” Complaints Arise

As COVID-19 resurges, high-intensity quarantine measures are being implemented across various parts of China. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] In China, which is implementing a 'Zero COVID' policy with high-intensity quarantine measures due to the spread of COVID-19, controversy has arisen over claims that a 3-year-old child died after an ambulance did not respond despite rescue requests.

According to local media such as Health Times on the 3rd, a 3-year-old child was poisoned by carbon monoxide and transported to a hospital but died at a residence in Qilihe, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province on the afternoon of the 1st.

The Qilihe Public Security Bureau stated on the day of the accident, "At around 1:43 PM, we received a rescue request and two police officers were dispatched. With the cooperation of residents, the child was transported to the hospital at 1:57 PM but died," adding, "It is presumed to be carbon monoxide poisoning due to careless use of a gas stove." The Public Security Bureau emphasized the prompt police dispatch and rescue, urging safe use of gas during winter, and this matter was regarded as a simple carbon monoxide poisoning accident.

However, the father of the deceased child revealed that despite rescue requests, no ambulance arrived, bringing the medical authorities' response under scrutiny. He told Health Times, "I found my wife and child collapsed at home and made six rescue requests to the emergency center over about 50 minutes starting from 12:15 PM, but no ambulance came. I carried my unconscious child and ran out to take a taxi, arriving at the hospital around 2:30 PM, but the doctor said 'It was too late.'"

He raised his voice, saying, "The tragedy could have been prevented," and "I want to know why the ambulance did not come despite multiple calls." The emergency center stated, "We are investigating this matter."

On China's Weibo, posts have continued, saying "Medical authorities focus only on COVID-19 prevention, neglecting general emergency patient rescue," and "Could strict quarantine controls have prevented ambulances from dispatching?" There were also criticisms that the police, who had taken credit, actually played no role.

Netizens also recalled cases in Xi'an, which was locked down in January, where hospitals refused treatment because patients did not have negative PCR test certificates, resulting in the death of a heart disease patient and a miscarriage of a pregnant woman.

Meanwhile, despite high-intensity quarantine measures, China's daily new infections have exceeded 3,000. New infections in China, which had been implementing the 'Zero COVID' policy, had dropped to double digits in June and seemed to be calming down, but then increased again and rapidly rose after the 18th of last month.

As health experts warn of a possible 'twindemic' this winter with simultaneous outbreaks of COVID-19 and influenza, high-intensity quarantine is being implemented across China as COVID-19 resurges. Some cities are completely locking down areas where infections occur and conducting PCR tests on all residents even if only one new infection is detected.

There are some expectations that China’s quarantine controls might be eased to revive the stagnant economy, but due to the rapid increase in infections, it seems unlikely that the 'Zero COVID' policy will be lifted anytime soon. On the 2nd, some railway bureaus in Guangxi and Guangdong provinces and Hefei Airport in Anhui Province announced they would stop requiring PCR test confirmations for train and airplane passengers.

The National Health Commission of China mandated that from September 10 to the 31st of last month, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 due to increased population movement during the National Day holiday (October 1?7), passengers on airplanes, trains, intercity buses, and ships leaving provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions must carry a PCR test negative certificate issued within 48 hours.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.