BEIJING: China on Wednesday announced 10 new measures to deal with Covid-19, accelerating its move away from the zero-tolerance stance that has kept the country isolated from the rest of the world and devastated the economy for the past three years.
The new leadership comes less than two weeks after protests swept the country in a rare show of defiance to the government’s handling of the virus, and as the number of cases rose steadily despite the best containment efforts. It is the second time the government has unveiled guidelines for officials to follow after releasing 20 policy measures in November, underscoring how quickly the shift in strategy is happening.
Here are the 10 new measures:
1. Be specific in categorizing high-risk areas, limiting them to residential units or blocks and refraining from extending them at will to an entire subdivision, neighborhood or street.
2. Reduce the frequency of mass testing and further minimize their magnitude. Testing negative or a green health code on smartphone contact-tracing apps will no longer be required to enter most public spaces, except for hospitals, nursing homes and kindergartens. On-arrival testing and verification of health codes will end for domestic travel.
3. Asymptomatic and mild cases of Covid (who meet quarantine conditions) can stay at home or voluntarily go to a centralized quarantine facility for seven days. Close contacts can self-quarantine for five days.
4. Lockdowns in high-risk areas will be lifted if there are no new cases for five consecutive days.
5. Ensure the availability of medicines to the public. Pharmacies cannot close at will and no drug purchase limits will be allowed.
6. Accelerate vaccination of the elderly. Establish green lanes and mobile vaccination points, improve publicity and consider incentives to promote vaccine use.
7. Strengthen the monitoring of the population still at risk of Covid.
8. the normal functioning of key societal services. Low-risk areas are not permitted to control movement or suspend any service, work or production. Public officials must respond quickly to the basic vital needs of the population.
9. Prohibit the blocking of emergency exits or entrances to apartments. Emergency exits must remain open in the event of a medical emergency or danger.
10. Improve pandemic control measures on school campuses. Schools without Covid cases should conduct offline learning and keep shared spaces open (e.g. cafeterias, libraries, stadiums). Schools with Covid cases should be specific in categorizing high-risk areas and ensure low-risk areas continue as usual.
The new leadership comes less than two weeks after protests swept the country in a rare show of defiance to the government’s handling of the virus, and as the number of cases rose steadily despite the best containment efforts. It is the second time the government has unveiled guidelines for officials to follow after releasing 20 policy measures in November, underscoring how quickly the shift in strategy is happening.
Here are the 10 new measures:
1. Be specific in categorizing high-risk areas, limiting them to residential units or blocks and refraining from extending them at will to an entire subdivision, neighborhood or street.
2. Reduce the frequency of mass testing and further minimize their magnitude. Testing negative or a green health code on smartphone contact-tracing apps will no longer be required to enter most public spaces, except for hospitals, nursing homes and kindergartens. On-arrival testing and verification of health codes will end for domestic travel.
3. Asymptomatic and mild cases of Covid (who meet quarantine conditions) can stay at home or voluntarily go to a centralized quarantine facility for seven days. Close contacts can self-quarantine for five days.
4. Lockdowns in high-risk areas will be lifted if there are no new cases for five consecutive days.
5. Ensure the availability of medicines to the public. Pharmacies cannot close at will and no drug purchase limits will be allowed.
6. Accelerate vaccination of the elderly. Establish green lanes and mobile vaccination points, improve publicity and consider incentives to promote vaccine use.
7. Strengthen the monitoring of the population still at risk of Covid.
8. the normal functioning of key societal services. Low-risk areas are not permitted to control movement or suspend any service, work or production. Public officials must respond quickly to the basic vital needs of the population.
9. Prohibit the blocking of emergency exits or entrances to apartments. Emergency exits must remain open in the event of a medical emergency or danger.
10. Improve pandemic control measures on school campuses. Schools without Covid cases should conduct offline learning and keep shared spaces open (e.g. cafeterias, libraries, stadiums). Schools with Covid cases should be specific in categorizing high-risk areas and ensure low-risk areas continue as usual.
