People weary of complying with China’s tighter anti-COVID rules await clarity on an easing of restrictions that could be announced as soon as possible, while the more cautious look to buy cold medicines and home test kits Arrived for
State media fueled a growing sense of anticipation by reporting that China should “better coordinate pandemic policies with economic and social development” after President Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of the Communist Party’s Politburo.
Various restrictions were lifted by authorities in some cities last month shortly after widespread protests against some of the world’s toughest COVID restrictions, while top officials began to tone down their warnings about the dangers posed by COVID-19.
Two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that China could announce 10 new national easing measures on Wednesday.
It has raised prospects that Beijing may try to slowly catch up with the rest of the world and begin reopening its economy three years after a pandemic that broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. Was furious.
But looser restrictions – which include cuts to testing and less important quarantine rules – have set off a rush for preventive drugs as some residents, especially uneducated elders, feel more vulnerable to the virus.
Authorities across the country have warned of tight supplies and price hikes from retailers in recent days.
“Please buy rationally, buy on demand and don’t stock up indiscriminately,” the Beijing Municipal Food and Drug Administration was quoted as saying by the state-owned Beijing Evening News.