Evaluation of effectiveness of China’s dynamic zero-COVID strategy for epidemic prevention and control

Dynamic zero-COVID strategy is applied in China during the normalized stage of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. China's experience in dealing with the spread of the Delta variant and the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic was summarized. Susceptible-exposed-infected-removed (SEIR) model for infectious diseases was employed to predict the accumulated number of confirmed cases before dynamic zero-COVID strategy based on national notification data regarding COVID-19 pandemic from May 21, 2021, to August 8, 2021. Model predictions were used to assess the efficacy of dynamic zero-COVID strategy. Dynamic zero-COVID strategy effectively reduced the number of infections nationwide in response to a new wave of Delta variant transmission. The Central People's Government continuously adjusted the epidemic prevention and control policies based on the characteristics of virus mutations and the effects of policy execution, thereby aligning with the scientific rules of epidemic prevention and control and with China's basic national conditions. Dynamic zero-COVID strategy is a scientifically sound and practical for preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic throughout China.