China has made the most significant modifications to its steadfast anti-COVID system since the outbreak began three years ago, loosening measures that have slowed the virus’s spread but provoked protests and devastated the world’s second-largest economy.
President Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Communist Party’s Political Bureau on Tuesday and revealed the policy revisions, which he considers one of his greatest successes.
The loosening of guidelines, which includes allowing infected persons with minor symptoms to quarantine at home and removing testing for internal passengers, is the clearest sign that Beijing is modifying its “zero-COVID” policy to enable people to live with the disease.
Many of the modifications outlined by the National Health Commission (NHC) were already in place in various towns and regions in response to protests against severe COVID limits in recent days.
Shanghai was among the first cities to announce that it will introduce new home quarantine measures and remove travel restrictions. Shanghai Disneyland is set to reopen to the public on December 8.
Many investors praised the move, claiming that it would reinvigorate China’s weak economy and currency, as well as spur global development.
