changing rules
Less than 24 hours after violent protests rocked Guangzhou on Tuesday, officials in at least seven districts in the giant manufacturing hub said they were lifting temporary lockdowns. One district said it would allow the reopening of schools, restaurants and businesses, including theaters.
Cities including Chongqing and Zhengzhou also announced relaxations.
Adding to the sense of change in direction, Sun Chunlan, the vice premier overseeing COVID efforts, said the virus’ ability to cause disease was weakening, state media reported.
“The country is facing a new situation and new tasks in epidemic prevention and control as the pathogenicity of the Omicron virus weakens, more people are vaccinated and the virus becomes more effective,” Sun said in comments reported in state media. is experienced.”
Sun also urged further “optimization” of testing, treatment and quarantine policies.
The mention of a weak pathogenicity contradicts earlier messages from the authorities about the death of the virus.
Nomura analysts said in a research note, “Sun’s speech, in addition to the notable easing of COVID control measures in Guangzhou yesterday, gives another strong signal that the zero-COVID policy will end in the next few months. “
“These two incidents probably point to the beginning of the end of zero-Covid.”
Some communities in the capital, Beijing, have begun preparing for change.
One community east of the city is holding an online poll this week on the possibility of home isolating positive cases, residents said.
“I certainly welcome the decision of our residential community to run this vote regardless of the outcome,” said Tom Simpson, managing director of resident China at the China-UK Business Council.
He said his main concern was being forced to go to a quarantine facility, where “the situation could be dire to say the least”.
Prominent nationalist commentator Hu Zijin said in a social media post on Wednesday that many asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus in Beijing were already quarantining at home.