China eases strict “Zero COVID” restrictions in some cities after protests

various cities of China They decided to relax the strict anticovid measures this Friday, after the historic demonstrations in recent days to demand an end to the restrictions and more freedoms.

The indignation and frustration of the population at the policy of “zero covid” imposed by the authorities to fight the pandemic generated last weekend protests of an unprecedented magnitude for decades.

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After these demonstrations, Several cities began to ease sanitary restrictions, such as stopping mass daily tests.

As of Friday, the metropolis of Chengdu (southwest) It will no longer require a recent negative test result to enter public places or take the metro. Only a green health pass will be necessary, which confirms that no “high risk” area was crossed.

In the capital, Beijing, health authorities have asked hospitals to stop turning away patients who do not have a negative PCR test of less than 48 hours.

A group of protesters hold a rally in Seoul, in support of demonstrations held in China over Beijing’s Covid-19 restrictions. (Anthony WALLACE / AFP /)

In China There have been several deaths due to delays in medical treatment caused by anti-covid measures.

It was the case of a four-month-old baby who recently passed away from having to be in quarantine with his father.

In January, in the city of Xian, a pregnant woman lost her baby at the doors of a hospital that would not let her in because she did not have a test.

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In the demonstrations this weekend, these deaths became topical again. On social networks, a message with all the names of the people who died due to negligence due to sanitary restrictions went viral.

Many other cities, affected by new coronavirus outbreaks, have begun to authorize the reopening of restaurants, shopping centers and schools, clearly leaving aside the strict measures that were in force until now.

home quarantine

In the city of urumqicapital of the region of xinjiang (Northwest), where a deadly fire broke out that sparked the first demonstrations, the authorities announced Friday that supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and ski resorts would be gradually reopened.

This city, with more than four million inhabitants, had one of the longest confinements in China. Some of its neighborhoods remained closed since August.

On November 26, a fire in a residential building caused 10 deaths, and many said that the work of the firefighters was hampered by health regulations.

In an analysis published Friday in the People’s Daily, the organ of the ruling Communist Party, several health experts supported the measures taken by some local authorities to allow positive cases to quarantine at home.

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It is a radical change from the norms that prevail in much of the country, which require that infected people be confined to government facilities.

On Thursday, the industrial city of Dongguan (South) announced that people with “specific conditions” must be allowed to stay at home during isolation. These conditions were not specified.

The technological megalopolis of Shenzhenalso in the south, began applying a similar policy on Wednesday.

And at the national level, government officials also pointed out that it could consider softening the restrictions.

The Deputy Prime Minister sun chunlan He acknowledged Wednesday before the national health commission that the omicron variant was less dangerous and said the vaccination rate had improved, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

China’s way of dealing with the virus is “under new circumstances,” he said.

A central figure in the Chinese strategy in the face of the pandemic, Sun did not mention the “zero covid” policy, implying that perhaps this strategy, which has impacted the lives of the Chinese population and its economy for three years, could be softened. coming soon.

Source: Elcomercio