Covid-19 Protests: China Entering ‘New Stage And Mission’ For Pandemic Controls, Says Official

A senior official said that China is entering a “new stage and mission” in Covid-19 controls potentially hinting at adjustment to Beijing's “zero-Covid” strategy which has sparked nationwide protests.

A senior official said that China is entering a “new stage and mission” in Covid-19 controls

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After China witnessed massive protests over its zero-Covid strategy, a senior official in charge of its Covid response on Wednesday said the country is entering a “new stage and mission” in pandemic controls.

The comments potentially indicate its adjustment to Beijing’s “zero-Covid” strategy which has sparked nationwide protests, reported CNN citing news agency Xinhua.

“With the decreasing toxicity of the Omicron variant, the increasing vaccination rate and the accumulating experience of outbreak control and prevention, China’s pandemic containment faces new stage and mission,” the report quoted China’s vice premier Sun Chunlan citing Xinhua.

However, the official didn’t make any comments on the country's zero-Covid policy.  The comments come amid China’s National Health Commission (NHC) announcing the rectification of current pandemic measures saying local governments should “respond to and resolve the reasonable demands of the masses” in a timely manner.

In a meeting with the NHC on Wednesday, Sun stressed adopting a “human-centered approach”, and China should enhance its “diagnosis, testing, treatment and quarantine” measures, continue boosting vaccination rates – especially among the elderly people – and beef up medication and medical resources.

The change in China’s stance comes as officials in Guangzhou hinted at easing Covid-19 containment measures after the southern part of the city witnessed violence with protesters clashing with police on Tuesday evening.

Zhang Yi, a spokesperson of Guangzhou’s health commission informed that the city has adjusted the designation of risk levels and pandemic containment measures – to a varying extent – in all its eleven districts.

Lockdowns in four districts – namely Liwan, Baiyun, Tianhe and Haizhu – have been lifted, while lockdowns remain in areas designated as high-risk.

Guangzhou will stop sending all close contacts of Covid-19 patients to central quarantine facilities and allow some to isolate at home if they meet the requirements, Zhang said.