(Yicai Global) Dec. 6 -- Medical experts and officials in China have urged residents not to stockpile Covid-19 drugs amid easing restrictions.

A Covid-19 infection tends to cause a self-limited illness, a specialist in the infection department of a hospital told Yicai Global. Most cases are asymptomatic, and most patients can recover without taking drugs. This is why residents are not recommended to buy medicines blindly as some of them may have side effects, the expert added.

Several regional governments have dialed back strict Covid-19 restrictions in the past weeks to forego frequent PCR testing and requiring negative test results to enter public venues or transport.

Capsules of Lianhua Qingwen, a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat influenza, and ibuprofen, are sold out at several pharmacies, Yicai Global learned. The government has recommended using Lianhua Qingwen to treat mild Covid-19 symptoms. Prices of Covid-19 drugs have risen online as one e-commerce platform priced a box of Lianhua Qingwen at CNY75 (USD11), more than three times the usual.

Some regional administrations are stepping in to stabilize drug prices. Price gouging will be punished severely, market regulators in Zhejiang province's Hangzhou said in a statement yesterday. Those enticing other merchants to sell unreasonably expensive drugs can be fined up to CNY5 million (USD715,351).

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi