The antimicrobial resistance crisis has been amplified by
the COVID-19 pandemic. However, under its zero-COVID
policy, China had a decline in antibiotic consumption,2
because the intensive non-pharmaceutical interventions
aimed at controlling COVID-19 also prevented the
spread of other airborne diseases and their subsequent
infections. China also tightened drug selling to treat
COVID-19-related symptoms as part of its zero-COVID
efforts, which contributed to lessened self-medication
with antibiotics. Therefore, antimicrobial resistance
has not been seen as an urgent issue, at least until China
relaxed its zero-COVID policy in early December, 2022.
The current surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections across China
will lead to an increase in the use of antibiotics, which
will exacerbate the irrational use of antibiotics seen
before the COVID-19 era
