A further relaxation of the corona virus has come into effect in several Chinese cities. In the capital Beijing and the financial metropolis of Shanghai, residents no longer have to provide a negative test result of up to 48 hours old to use public transport. In Shanghai, residents are allowed to enter outdoor areas such as parks and tourist attractions without a recent test, authorities said on Sunday. The financial metropolis was closed for months this year.
Also in the city of Wuhan, where the corona virus was first detected at the end of 2019, and in the city of Shandong, the authorities lifted the test requirement for public transport on Sunday. The city of Hangzhou went one step further. It ended regular mass testing for the ten million inhabitants. Excluded from the relaxation are people who go to or live in care institutions, schools and kindergartens.
In the northwestern city of Urumqi, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and ski resorts reopened on Monday. The city sparked nationwide protests after a house fire killed 10 people. Critics blamed the corona lockdowns on not being able to save people from the fire. What started as protests against the strict measures soon turned against President Xi and the Communist Party in general.
30,000 new corona cases
Recently, China had started easing some of the corona measures that had been in place for months. In addition to the testing obligation, this also applies to the quarantine regulations. The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the relaxation of the strict zero-Covid policy.
The Chinese authorities reported nearly 30,000 new corona cases in the country on Monday.
(yam/sda/afp)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
