How Risky if China Moves Away from Its Zero-COVID Policy?

We found four striking differences in the COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR) or the ratio of symptomatic COVID-19 cases versus asymptomatic infections. These striking differences all suggest that the risk for China to move away from its zero-COVID policy shall depend on China’s control measures. The CFR of COVID-19 in China can remain less than one tenth of influenza, namely that COVID-19 can be “tiny influenza” in China, if COVID-19 cases shall be well isolated in well disinfected environments (e.g., staying at well-disinfected home) with good maintenance treatment, to minimize their co-infections and maintain their body functions. Otherwise, the CFR of COVID-19 in China can be several times higher than influenza, namely that COVID-19 can be “giant influenza” in China. This analysis is also important to mitigate COVID-19 worldwide.