CHINA has managed to wrest control of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been attributed to speedy response and its culture among others, medical journal The Lancet has reported.

Comparing the pandemic developments in China and some Western countries, an article published in the journal Thursday said that “a centralized epidemic response system” has placed China in a prime position to tackle the disease.

(Photo: VCG)

“The speed of China’s response was the crucial factor,” said Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, the U.S. state of Minnesota.

“They moved very quickly to stop transmission. Other countries, even though they had much longer to prepare for the arrival of the virus, delayed their response and that meant they lost control,” Poland explained.

From strict lockdowns and outdoor restrictions to massive tests in metropolises across the country, the article analyzed China’s measures to fight the virus.

The article outlined the factors promoting the effectiveness of China’s response, including the manufacturing capability of personal protective equipment, effective building of temporary hospitals network, public health actions, notably wearing masks, coordination between government sectors and civil compliance with regulations. (Xinhua)