China reverses on strict Covid rules after protests
By Admin
China is lifting its most severe Covid policies – including forcing people into quarantine camps – just a week after landmark protests against the strict controls.
People with Covid can now isolate at home rather than in state facilities if they have mild or no symptoms.
They also no longer need to show tests for most venues, and can travel more freely inside the country.
Citizens have expressed relief but also concern about the sudden changes.
should only apply to more targeted areas – for example, certain buildings, units or floors as opposed to whole neighbourhoods or cities being shut down
Areas identified as “high-risk” should come out of lockdown in five days if no new cases are found. Several cities in China have endured months-long lockdowns this year even when there were only a handful of cases
Schools can remain open with student attendance if there’s no wider campus outbreak
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The new guidelines also included a strict ban on blocking fire exits and doors and said people had to be able to access emergency medical treatment and escape routes unhindered by pandemic measures.
It follows reports of people being locked into their homes during an earthquake, and buildings being sealed under lockdown measures.
The recent protests were triggered by a deadly fire in the western Xinjiang region – critics said the victims had been unable to escape the building because of lockdown measures but Beijing denies this.
the least damage is via vaccination and three doses of vaccination is a must,” Prof Ivan Hung at Hong Kong University told the BBC earlier this week.
“Hopefully before Chinese New Year [in January 2023] as there will be a large movement of the population travelling and returning home,” he added.
China’s international borders also remain closed to most foreigners, however some analysts say this rapid change shows the country could re-open next year.
