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China COVID policy: Major changes in further easing

China COVID policy: Major changes in further easing
Published in 7 December, 2022
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China’s National Health Commission announced on Wednesday the most significant relaxation of its COVID-19 prevention and control protocols since the pandemic erupted three years ago.

Rules covering quarantine, people movement, lockdowns and testing were loosened, and other aspects of policy were also adjusted. The main changes are listed below: – High-risk areas must be accurately designated by buildings, units, floors, and households, and cannot be arbitrarily expanded to residential compounds and communities.

– Mass COVID testing cannot be carried out by administrative regions. Scope and frequency of testing should be further reduced.

– Negative COVID testing results or health code checks are no longer required except in places such as nursing homes, welfare homes, medical institutions, childcare institutions, and primary and middle schools.

– Checks for negative test results and health codes will no longer be required from people travelling to other places within China.

– Asymptomatic patients and cases with mild symptoms can undergo home quarantine, or voluntarily choose to isolate at a centralized quarantine location. Close contacts of cases can isolate at home for five days or choose to go to a centralized quarantine location.

– High-risk areas without new infections for five consecutive days should be released from lockdowns in a timely manner.

– Pharmacies cannot restrict online and offline purchases of over-the-counter medicines such as antipyretic, cough, antiviral and cold medications.

Reuters