Chinese authorities are slowly reopening the economy after nationwide protests against tough zero-COVID policies, announcing yesterday that it would allow patients with mild symptoms to isolate at home, among other new measures aimed at slackening a tough anti-virus policy that has battered its economy and ignited historic protests.
The relaxation of rules, which also include dropping the need for people to show negative tests when they travel between regions, came as top officials toned down warnings about the dangers posed by COVID-19, according to a Reuters report on the TimesLIVE site.
It is anticipated that Beijing may slowly start reopening its economy three years into a pandemic, which erupted in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
Cities countrywide were in turmoil last month after protests over tough COVID measures in what was the biggest show of public discontent since President Xi Jinping Xi came to power in 2012. However, the looser curbs have initiated a rush for preventive drugs as some residents, particularly the unvaccinated elderly, feel more vulnerable to the virus.
Authorities have warned of tight supplies and price gouging from retailers in recent days.
In Beijing’s upmarket Chaoyang district, home to most foreign embassies as well as entertainment venues and corporate headquarters, shops were fast running out of some of the drugs, according to a resident.
“Last night the medicines were already in stock, and now many of them are out of stock,” he said. “Epidemic preventions have been lifted … testing sites are mostly being dismantled … So, because right now in Chaoyang district cases are quite high, it is better to stock up on some medicines.”
BusinessLIVE article – China relaxes Covid-19 restrictions after widespread protests (Open access)
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