So this sounds plausible, but since Xi is an autocrat, and since they can just bury/censor a small handful of adverse outcomes, why wouldn't Xi want to ram this through and override the risk aversion of the medics on the ground?
Just because something could be done, does not imply that it would be done. I can't speak for the decision makers, but it's clear that they have decided that it wasn't worth it. And that was probably the right call until Omicron.
