Today is the official start of the annual Lunar New year migration home for tens of millions of migrant workers, for the few weeks each year they get to see their children and other relatives. Sadly that will not be happening for many if not most of them, as governments at all levels are using soft and hard measures to encourage people to stay where they are to celebrate the Spring Festival.

It is just another thing ruined by this pandemic. I admit to being mentally exhausted this week after a few days of euphoria last week, as reality sets in that we are far from done with this “devil virus 病魔”, as Xi called it about a year ago.

Today’s Essential eight items:

1. Outbreaks ruin many Lunar New Year travel plans

2. Politburo meeting

3. Vice FM Le Yucheng and Amb. Cui Tiankai give speeches on US-China relations

4. Recommendations for Biden’s China policy

5. More US-China

6. WHO team leaves Wuhan quarantine hotel

7. India Foreign Minister on India-China ties

8. 2021 GDP target by another name?

Thanks for reading, and hop…