China continues to reduce the intensity of anti-covid measures after the protests that have marked the country in recent weeks, the Reuters agency reports this Saturday.
According to that agency, the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Friday closed the Covid-19 testing stations that were previously available on the streets of the city. On the other hand, several other cities, most recently Shenzhen, but also Chengdu and Tianjin, have determined that citizens are no longer required to present a negative test to use public transport.
Chinese revolt against Covid zero tolerance policy. Xi Jinping’s “big test” is now the street
At a time when China is registering a spike in the number of cases of coronavirus infection, the zero-tolerance policy towards Covid-19 – which includes lockdowns at the slightest sign of infection and mandatory tests – has caused enormous popular discontent, in in addition to contributing to an economic contraction in the country.
In the case of Beijing, the authorities in the Chinese capital no longer require a negative Covid-19 test to enter various public places, including supermarkets, and from Monday this rule will also apply to the subway.
China relaxes anti-Covid-19 measures, but guarantees that fight against the pandemic will be successful
Also according to Reuters, a reduction in testing requirements nationwide should be announced soon.
The zero-tolerance policy for Covid-19, driven largely by the low effectiveness of the Chinese vaccine compared to Western vaccines, has brought thousands of Chinese to the streets in recent weeks to protest for freedom and democracy. In response to these protests, the Chinese authorities have gradually relaxed some of the stricter measures.
Source: Observadora
