China is relaxing its zero-COVID policy

The Chinese government issued new guidelines easing some of its strict zero-COVID policies on Wednesday 7th Dec,2022. Testing requirements and travel restrictions have been relaxed, and people infected with SARS-CoV-2 who have mild or no symptoms are for the first time allowed to isolate at home instead of in centrally managed facilities.

The guidelines represent a significant shift from the strict policy that China has maintained for the past three years, which involved quashing outbreaks through mass testing, stringent lockdowns and border closures.

The changes move China “in the right direction” and balance the need to protect the most vulnerable people from infection, while also reducing the economic and social harms of lockdowns.

The latest national guidelines state that mass testing across entire cities is no longer required. People no longer have to show evidence of a negative test to travel between regions or access public transport and other venues, except for high-risk settings such as nursing homes. And the guidelines prioritize boosting the low rates of vaccination among older people.