Covid Catastrophe Looms for China's New Year Travelers

The transcript discusses the massive holiday migration in China during the Spring Festival, which is expected to involve 2.1 billion trips. Concerns are raised about the potential for a COVID-19 super spreader event, with estimates of 900 million infections in urban centers. The countryside, with a higher elderly population and limited healthcare, is particularly vulnerable. The Chinese government, including Xi Jinping and COVID czar Sun Chunlan, is addressing these concerns, with Sun Chunlan shifting to a softer approach as cases reportedly decline.

What are the expected impacts of the COVID wave on urban centers in China?

Describe the changes in tone regarding COVID-19 policies as mentioned in the text.