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China relaxes corona rules – and life is slowly returning

China relaxes corona rules – and life is slowly returning

Open shops, crowded trains and people without masks in cafes. Images that have been the norm in this country for months have long been unthinkable in many Chinese cities. President Xi Jinping’s strict zero-Covid policy had brought life in the country to a standstill for almost three years. But that is over now.

After thousands of people called for an end to the tough lockdown measures at the end of November, the government turned around on Wednesday and announced numerous easing of restrictions, quarantine rules and compulsory testing. Living with the virus instead of desperately keeping the number of infections to zero should now also apply to the People’s Republic.

China’s ten-point plan heralds corona easing

Almost two weeks ago, the largest wave of protests in decades rolled through several Chinese cities. The resentment was directed against extensive curfews, forced quarantine, constant testing and control by the Corona app. The government in Beijing found itself in a dilemma: while its zero-Covid strategy led to increasing discontent among the population and enormous burdens for the second-largest economy, it was also evident that the strict measures against the new, easily transferrable omicron variants of the virus were less and less effective.

With the new ten-point plan, lockdowns should only be imposed on individual buildings, floors or households – and no longer “arbitrarily” extended to entire districts or streets. For infected people without symptoms or with a mild course of the disease, it should also be possible in principle to go into isolation at home. Even contact persons are no longer threatened with the quarantine camp as before. You should also be able to isolate yourself at home. The obligation to carry out frequent PCR tests and the constant control of the Corona app for scanning have also been relaxed.

And good news for the Chinese New Year in January: A negative test and proof of safety via the health program are no longer required for travel within China.

But with the easing, new problems are coming to the country.

A wave of protests is followed by a wave of infections

After the end of the strict measures, health experts expect a massive wave of infections. According to a Chinese government adviser, the vast majority of the 1.4 billion Chinese will eventually become infected with the virus. The former deputy director of the national health authority assumes 80 to 90 percent of the population.

The top priority for the government is now to promote vaccinations in the country – especially for older people with chronic diseases. Those who are not fully vaccinated should do so as soon as possible, according to Beijing.

Now that they have regained some of their freedom, the increased risk of infection is likely to be the lesser evil for many Chinese. Images from a country that is slowly coming back to life.

Sources: “”, “”, with AFP material

Source: Stern

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