After protests against “zero covid” policy, China eases restrictions

Chinese authorities have reported a possible relaxation of the strict zero tolerance strategy with the coronavirus, after national protests to ask for the end of confinements and more political freedom.

In a speech to the National Health Commission (NHC) on Wednesday, Deputy Premier Sun Chunlan said the omicron variant of the virus was weakening and the vaccination is on the riseaccording to China’s official Xinhua news agency.

Having said that, Sun said, there is a “new situation” which requires “new tasks”.

Sun, considered a key figure in Beijing’s response to the pandemic, did not mention the zero-covid policy, suggesting possible relief in strategy that affected the economy and the daily life of the population.

Anger over China’s anti-Covid policy, which includes strict lockdowns, has sparked protests in major cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Beijing has asked for a strong hand in the face of the demonstrations, but the authorities have also given it signs of relaxation of the anti-virus strategy.

Flexibility of measures

Beijing has announced a relaxation regarding PCR testing. The elderly and those who already study or work remotely should not undergo daily testssaid Xu Hejian, spokesman for the municipal government.

However, the inhabitants must present a negative test in less than 48 hours to enter public places.

In Guangzhou, an important manufacturing center where clashes broke out between police and protesters on Tuesday night, the lift a one-week block despite recording record numbers of infections.

Although the numbers reach records, the the infections are negligible in relation to the population. 35,800 cases were reported on Thursday, out of a population of 1.4 billion and with the vast majority of cases asymptomatic.

Furthermore, the central city of Chongqing announced on Wednesday that close contacts of people with COVID-19 could save home quarantine if you meet certain requirementsa twist to rules that required them to go to isolation facilities.

Sun’s comments and looser rules in some locations “may signal that China is starting to consider ending its strict zero-COVID policy,” analysts said.

“We believe the Chinese authorities are transitioning to aa position of ‘living with covid’as reflected in the rules that allow people to self-isolate at home rather than being taken to quarantine centres,” ANZ Research analysts said in a statement.

As we approach the third anniversary of the detection of the pandemic in the central city of Wuhan, China’s tough policy against the virus has spawned protests the likes of which have not been seen since the pro-democracy movement of 1989.

A deadly fire last week in Urumqi, capital of the northwestern region of Xinjiang, catalysed the fury of the population who believed that the victims were trapped inside the burning building due to anti-covid restrictions.

Call for political reforms

But also the protesters call for political reforms and some have even called for the resignation of President Xi Jinping.

Tight control of information in China and travel restrictions have made it difficult to verify the number of protesters at protests across the country.

is it is rare for China to register demonstrations across the country as happened over the weekend.

The 1989 pro-democracy movement ended in bloodshed when the military intervened, especially in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who seized power immediately after the Tiananmen massacre, died on Wednesday.

When asked about the protests in an interview with NBC News, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in every country the the population must be able to “express their frustrations” through peaceful protests.

When a “government takes major repressive action to stop it, it’s not a sign of strength, it’s a sign of weakness,” Blinken said.

“The United States should respond seriously to the needs of its people and mind your businessZhao Lijian, spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, responded on Thursday.

Source: AFP

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