Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen Relax Covid Control Policies
Qian Tongxin | Ge Hui
DATE:  Dec 01 2022
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen Relax Covid Control Policies Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen Relax Covid Control Policies

(Yicai Global) Dec. 1 -- Several major cities in China, including Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, have loosened their Covid-19 prevention and control measures, inspired by the central government.

Guangzhou yesterday lifted temporary control regimes in several districts, including Panyu, Liwan, and Baiyun. Eligible areas should end lockdowns as soon as possible while close contacts of patients can complete their quarantine at home. A nearby metropolis of Shenzhen released similar changes the same day.

Beijing announced yesterday that people who work or study at home, including the elderly and infants, no longer need to regularly complete PCR tests.

Central China's Zhengzhou said the day before that supermarkets, restaurants, and cinemas can resume work, and residents of communities with no new infections within five days no longer need to get tested.

On Nov. 11, the cabinet issued a notice to ease the country's Covid-19 prevention and control policy. That means that people in high-risk areas no longer need to go to a designated facility for quarantine but can stay home. Moreover, close contacts of patients have to go to a centralized facility for five days of quarantine and after that, stay home for three days, down from a combination of seven and three days. Close contacts of close contacts are not tracked anymore.

Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said at a symposium yesterday that China is facing a new situation and new tasks as the omicron variant is weaker, vaccines are becoming more widely adopted, and the country has gained experience in containing the pandemic, according to Xinhua's report.

Next, China will continue optimizing its diagnostics, testing, and quarantine policies, and strengthening its vaccination rate, especially among the elderly, while boosting medical resources, Sun added.

On Nov. 29, the State Council issued a work plan to encourage more senior citizens to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. More than 90 percent of people aged above 60 have received at least one dose of such vaccines but it is necessary to add boosters, especially for those aged over 80.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi

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Keywords:   Covid-19,Beijing,Guangzhou,Shenzhen