China Reports 2 Covid-19 Deaths As Restrictions Ease Amid Public Outrage

Capital city Beijing and some other cities have announced that riders can board buses and subways without a virus test for the first time in months.

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Amid vocal public frustration and relaxing the zero covid policy, China on Sunday reported 2 deaths from Covid-19, reported news agency Associated Press. As per the report citing the National Health Commission, one death was reported each in the provinces of Shandong and Sichuan. No information was given about the ages of the victims or whether they had been fully vaccinated.

While nine in 10 Chinese have been vaccinated, only 66% of people over 80 have gotten one shot, while 40% have received a booster, according to the commission. It said 86% of people over 60 are vaccinated, the report added. 

The development comes days after people in China took to streets to protest against the country’s zero-Covid policy which included strict quarantines, lockdowns and mass testing. Concerns over vaccination rates are believed to figure prominently in the ruling Communist Party’s determination to stick to its hardline strategy. 

However, following outrage by the public, the authorities soon lifted some of the more onerous restrictions, even as they say the “zero-COVID” strategy — which aims to isolate every infected person — is still in place.

Capital city Beijing and some other cities have announced that riders can board buses and subways without a virus test for the first time in months.

The slight relaxation of testing requirements comes even as daily virus infections reach near-record highs, and follows weekend protests across the country by residents frustrated by the rigid enforcement of anti-virus restrictions that are now entering their fourth year, even as the rest of the world has opened up.

On Saturday, the southern technological manufacturing centre of Shenzhen said that commuters no longer need to show a negative COVID-19 test result to use public transport or when entering pharmacies, parks and tourist attractions.