zero COVID

Noun

zero COVID (uncountable)

1. Having zero cases of COVID-19.
   • But of course, this is one project I hope we won't have to use at all. Having zero COVID is still the main and primary goal.2020 June 7, Isko Moreno, “‘Tondominium’ and quarantine facility goals met”, in Manila Bulletin
   • Compulsory social distancing measures across England should also be maintained until zero-Covid is achieved, according to the group, with working from home actively encouraged.2020 August 20, Lewis McKenzie, “Boris Johnson urged to adopt ‘zero-Covid’ strategy to tackle virus”, in Press Association, London
2. A strategy designed or intended to eliminate or completely exclude COVID-19 from a region or country, as was pursued in various countries in 2020 and 2021 but by the end of 2022 had been abandoned everywhere as infeasible.
   • China and New Zealand have shown that the elimination of the virus is technically possible and not even particularly difficult, even though there will always be minor setbacks. Before we have a good vaccine, “Zero COVID” is by far the best strategy to get the economy going again and allow a normal...2020 July 28, Veronica Hackenbroch, quoting Devi Sridhar, “Government Adviser Devi Sridhar What Europe Can Learn from Scotland in Fighting the Pandemic”, in Yerepouni Daily News, Beirut
   • Zero Covid is an unfortunate term for a policy target. Some viruses can linger on forever as relatively harmless afflictions once vaccines and therapies become available while others are harder for the medical experts to counter.2021 January 24, Colm McCarthy, “Endless trade-off between lives and livelihoods won't win war on Covid”, in Sunday Independent, Dublin, page 26