China’s vaccination rates among the most vulnerable are lacking, with only around 61 per cent of those over 60 having had three shots. This is of particular concern as an analysis of the country’s home-grown jabs has found that a booster jab is critical to maintain high protection against severe disease and death.

Prof Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at Hong Kong University who was not involved in the study, said the paper should not be seen as an endorsement of zero-COVID.

“The availability of vaccines and antiviral drugs offer an opportunity to move away from zero-COVID,” he told Reuters. “I can’t think what there is now to wait for.”

But the study also shines a spotlight on China’s singular approach to COVID. Experts have already criticised the country for failing to prioritise the elderly in vaccination drives, while resources have been focused on relentless testing, contact tracing and quarantining.

Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for global health Dr Yanzhong Huang previously told The Telegraph that healthcare personnel were mobilised to conduct PCR tests and enforce the quarantine while some hospitals are being closed.

“You don’t have the services providing vaccines to those who want to be vaccinated, not to mention those who are hesitant,” he said.

He added that China had not launched an effective public health strategy to persuade the hesitant to take shots.

Speaking at the WHO press conference on Tuesday, Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s emergencies programme, said that it was time for China to hit the reset button.

“We need to balance the control measures against the impact on society, the impact they have on the economy, and that’s not always an easy calibration,” he said, adding that China should show “due respect to individual and human rights”.

But Shanghai, which has been locked down for six weeks, has doubled down on its stringent pandemic restrictions, with local media reporting that two subway lines still operating have been suspended - marking the first time the city’s entire system has been shut down.

And, despite mounting frustrations among the public and a sharp fall in cases - from a peak of 26,000 in mid-April to roughly 3,000 on Monday - authorities have ordered people in some districts to remain home once again, after allowing limited access to shops.

Telegraph, London

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