New Zealand: ‘Zero COVID’ policy questioned

The two countries join the ASEAN nations, China, South Korea, and Japan. The pact will cover 30% of the world's population and 53% of last year's exports.

Other hard-nosed countries have eased strict pandemic measures, but there is no sign that China is moving toward a policy of "coexisting" with coronavirus.

New Zealand will reopen its borders in stages over time. Meanwhile, the WHO warned that the Europe would see many more deaths during the winter. Follow DW for the latest.

With the Winter Olympics in Beijing set to begin in just over a month, China is sticking more than ever to its anti-Covid measures, which are among the world's strictest. The city of Xi'an has been in lockdown for almost a fortnight, all because of fewer than 2,000 Covid-19 cases. To date, only a handful of cases of the Omicron variant – all of them arrivals from abroad – have been identified.

New Zealand's first COVID-19 case in six months prompted a snap nationwide lockdown. But the country's 'Zero COVID' policy is starting to come under criticism amid growing pressure on the economy.

New Zealand's first COVID-19 case in six months prompted a snap nationwide lockdown. But the country's 'Zero COVID' policy is starting to come under criticism amid growing pressure on the economy.

New Zealand plans to waive hotel quarantine requirements, first for its nationals stuck abroad, and eventually for all. The US will begin discharging troops who refuse the vaccine.

After first appearing in China more than two years ago, Covid-19 has returned to the Middle Kingdom. The country had largely succeeded in keeping infection and mortality rates in check. But in recent weeks, the Omicron variant has posed a significant challenge to the country's zero-Covid strategy. Once again, harsh lockdowns and restrictions are being enforced. We take a closer look.

The omicron variant is driving case numbers in parts of China to levels not seen since coronavirus first emerged. But keeping case numbers at near zero means continued disruptions and lockdowns.

DW speaks to Ben Cowling of the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong.

Some coronavirus restrictions are being eased in Shanghai, despite the Chinese city reporting recent record highs of new cases. Residents have grown increasingly frustrated as they've struggled to find enough food and medicine. We get analysis from Carl Minzner, senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor at Fordham Law School specialising in Chinese politics and law.

New Zealand has opened its borders to tourists for the first time in over two years. Meanwhile, Germany recorded no COVID deaths in a day for the first time since September 2020. DW has the latest.