As the COVID pandemic enters its third year, virologists and public health experts worldwide have reached a consensus: the virus will coexist with human society in the long term. During this Omicron wave, if cost is no object, Shanghai’s “zero-COVID” goal is only a matter of time, likely to be followed by some form of “victory celebration.” However, Chinese society must seriously consider whether to continue this costly “China COVID control model” until the economy, livelihoods, and healthcare system become unsustainable, or to break free from the politicization of pandemic control and seek a sustainable path before the next variant arrives.