"The difference between two completely different eras, which takes a Westerner four hundred years to experience, can be lived through by a Chinese in just forty years."

—Yu Hua

Scattering the salt and sugar of life on the streets of the world, planting the sour and bitter of life, it contains the sweetness brewed in autumn and the bitterness of summer. Please remember, life is cruel, and you have to live with warmth.

01

Shanghai's Exploration and Responsibility

On the morning of March 26th at 10 o'clock, Deputy Dean Wu Fan of the Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University introduced the latest situation of epidemic prevention and control in the city and rushed to the hot search. According to the introduction, Shanghai adopts the method of key areas + non-key areas, nucleic acid testing + antigen self-testing, which is an exploration of dealing with the current epidemic in Shanghai. This kind of exploration can be said to be forced out. Wu Fan explained: The first characteristic of such exploration is that the virus spreads fast. The second characteristic is the characteristic of the city, that is, the judgment made by Shanghai based on its own actual situation. Some people suggest online to decisively close for 3 or 5 days, can't it be closed for a week? Wu Fan said, indeed not. Because Shanghai, as a city, bears many important functions for the whole country and even the world. Shanghai is not just Shanghai for the people of Shanghai. It also bears important functions in the economic and social development of the whole country and even has an impact on the global economy. Prudently using and not using the policy of sealing the city is a wise move in epidemic prevention.

Netizens jokingly say: Shanghai, mockingly referred to as the "grid failure," is officially undergoing a reformat. As an outstanding student, Shanghai, despite being named as "a certain major city in the East," still withstood the pressure and successfully updated and improved its epidemic prevention policies. Truly commendable for Shanghai. While Shanghai could have opted for a lockdown, it resolutely resisted closing the city amidst external guidance. Surging to the top of the trending list is the best affirmation and support from the people. If Shanghai were to succumb to the epidemic this time, the whole country would likely be in a completely flattened state. Shanghai is indeed struggling against the odds, and expressing support through words is a way to boost morale for Shanghai.

02

Why Shanghai Can't "Lockdown"

Objectively speaking, even if a lockdown proves successful, it would be a "bitter victory," to some extent, a complete failure and an unavoidable strategy. A city like Shanghai, an international trade, economic, financial, and shipping center, imposing a lockdown would not only cause significant damage to the Chinese economy but also inflict massive shocks and harm on the global economic value chain and industry. This would exacerbate the current economic recession risk, possibly triggering systemic risks, resulting in a major economic downturn and further leading to a great depression. Moreover, it would seriously damage people's confidence in epidemic prevention and livelihoods, and even diminish the sense of achievement and recognition among the people for the globally acclaimed achievements in epidemic prevention during the first half. This would cast a thick shadow on post-epidemic economic recovery.

For the sake of the country, one should be willing to live or die. Who would want to make a choice of "either dying from illness or dying from poverty"? However, in the Nash equilibrium, the freedom of movement is too narrow. The real test of wisdom and level-headedness in the second half of epidemic prevention is here. How to truly understand our "dynamic zeroing"? With the virus mutating and the epidemic evolving, reinterpreting "dynamic zeroing" is crucial, and upgrading the scientific thinking on epidemic prevention becomes even more critical. This is not just a scientific thinking method but also a sense of responsibility and commitment, standing on the side of conscience and common sense, a patriotic act guarding the lights of millions of families.

The second half of the epidemic prevention efforts emphasizes the "dynamic" as a method, a measure, and, more importantly, a focus. "Zeroing" is a slogan, a desire, and also a direction. The two are not contradictory but should not be simplistically understood as "dynamic" serving "zeroing." To some extent, the effectiveness of the method "dynamic" in achieving results is more critical than the goal of "zeroing." Problem research should not only emphasize relevance but also prioritize causality. Without a scientifically dynamic cause, a healthy outcome of "zeroing" will not be achieved.

The frequent use of the term "judgment" in today's press conference explains the importance of valuing epidemic research and simultaneous growth. This behavior decision, characterized by data-driven research followed by judgment based on mathematical statistical analysis, signifies a rational return of the scientific value and cognition in epidemic prevention work. This rational growth balance demonstrates the ability to combat the epidemic and the dynamic development of scientific understanding. This is twofold; first, during the current epidemic development, the grid control, rotating nucleic acid testing, and enhanced control may, in fact, present the possibility of "experimental groups" and "control groups" for large-scale data modeling and analysis. The goal is to use the largest possible sample size to assess the protective effectiveness of vaccines in epidemiological (rather than clinical) practice. Simultaneously, rapid advancement in the containment of the epidemic through trench warfare, quick strikes to resolve the battle on-site. Relying on Shanghai, which has the strongest population density, medical resource endowment, and government mobilization ability, as a model to calculate the risks and possibilities of achieving "dynamic herd immunity and zeroing" domestically, accumulating experience for national epidemic prevention, and formulating the next step of "Dynamic Zeroing 2.0" action plan.

It can be affirmed that the next upgrade will move from a simple "dynamic zeroing" to a more balanced and flexible "dynamic balance" plan, suitable for alleviating rather than blocking. The importance of being dynamic is increasing, and zeroing is becoming less realistic in terms of practical value and significance.

03

Always Trust Shanghai

Scientific epidemic prevention is more like a high-level athlete participating in a competition. Under the correct overall policy of the government, success in high-level competition truly depends on the grasp and control of details. High-level dynamic adjustment and repositioning ability will be the stabilizer and amplifier of epidemic prevention results, ensuring the effectiveness of epidemic prevention on the margin, ultimately tending towards Pareto optimality. The semi-lockdown in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and in fact, the mass testing, have provided good stress tests for larger-scale similar activities at the societal level. With controllable results, it is hoped that travel restrictions on Shanghai and Shenzhen will gradually be lifted nationwide, based on a shared understanding.

Shanghai's choice has proven that the overall principle of "dynamic zeroing" in epidemic prevention is gaining enough "dynamic" activity, showing resilience, displaying the active characteristics of policies themselves, and heralding the return of scientific rationality.

Here, we cannot help but applaud Wu Fan for his outspokenness. We must also commend the courageous actions of Shanghai and Shenzhen. Additionally, we salute the medical staff and volunteers who are fighting on the frontlines and pay our respects to the heroes who sacrificed their lives. It is their silent dedication and protection that make this city so vibrant and colorful. There is no pain that cannot be healed, and no despair that cannot be overcome. Everything lost will return in a different but beautiful way.

To achieve the best balance between the economy, people's livelihoods, and epidemic prevention, to win this war against the epidemic with the smallest cost, we should strive not to be confined to binary choices. Instead of simply copying the Western approach, we should score a goal in our own epidemic prevention world and explore a path that minimizes costs, ensures both economic livelihoods and epidemic victory, and achieves dynamic balance. This is the true manifestation of our national strength and governance wisdom. If this is indeed the case, the nation is fortunate, and the people are blessed.

"Life cannot be as good as you imagine, but it will not be as bad as you imagine either. I think human vulnerability and strength exceed our own imagination. Sometimes, I may be so fragile that a single sentence brings tears to my eyes; other times, I find myself gritting my teeth and walking a long road." - Maupassant

In this life, I have no regrets entering the Chinese nation, and in the next life, I will still be a Chinese!