Shenzhen eases Covid-19 curbs, adds to signs of shift across China
CHINA’s southern tech hub Shenzhen ended mandatory Covid testing to enter public venues, adding to a growing list of local governments easing strict social curbs imposed across the nation since the pandemic broke out three years ago.
Covid-19 test results are no longer needed in Shenzhen to enter public transport, drug stores, parks and outdoor tourism spots, according to statements issued by the Shenzhen government Saturday (Dec 3). Earlier this week, the capital city Beijing and the southern factory hub Guangzhou lifted some of their restrictions even as virus infections fanned the worst outbreak since the crisis began.
Top government officials this week signaled a transition away from the harshest containment measures soon after anti-lockdown protests erupted across China. The government’s goal to eliminate the virus has become harder to enforce since the arrival of the more infectious omicron variant. That increased the toll on the world’s second-largest economy and angered citizens with every stepped-up attempt to crush the virus by restricting movement.
Vice Premier Sun Chunlan – the leader that besides President Xi Jinping has been most closely associated with Covid Zero – struck a new tone at a meeting this week saying the “fight against the pandemic is at a new stage and it comes with new tasks” as omicron is less pathogenic and more people get vaccinated.
The less-lethal omicron variant is now the prevalent Covid-19 strain in China, Xi told European Council President Charles Michel at a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, according to a European Union official who was briefed on the meeting. If confirmed, Xi’s comments would be the first public acknowledgment that the virus is weakening, adding to suggestions China’s leadership is moving toward further loosening of strict Covid Zero policies.
Other evidence of a softening tone this week added to cautious optimism China’s mindset around Covid has turned a corner:
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Authorities in the capital Beijing said hospitals and public transport can’t reject patients who are unable to provide negative Covid test results within 48 hours.
Beijing will now allow some people infected with the virus to isolate at home, starting with residents of the city’s most-populous district. Operators of buses and subways in China’s capital have also been warned not to reject passengers on the basis of not having negative Covid-19 test results within 48 hours.
Chengdu cancelled a rule requiring citizens to show negative test results to enter public venues such as malls and supermarkets.
The southern Guangdong province said close contacts who meet certain requirements can remain at home instead of going to centralized isolation facilities.
Guangdong’s capital Guangzhou later replaced lockdowns with more targeted restrictions, similar to a move announced in Zhengzhou, home to Apple’s largest manufacturing site in China.
China reported 32,206 new Covid-19 cases for Friday. BLOOMBERG
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