China will allow some infected asymptomatic and with mild symptoms of COVID “that meet certain conditions” isolate themselves in their homes instead of being confined in hospitals and isolation centers, as has been the case for almost three years, the state chain CCTV reported today.
The novelty is part of a new series of measures announced this Wednesday by the State Council (Chinese Executive) which also includes the reduction of the frequency of PCR tests to the populationamong other decisions that represent a further step in the relaxation of the harsh ‘zero covid’ policy in force since the pandemic began.
Except for places like hospitals, nursing homes and schools, it will not be necessary to show a PCR test to access public placesa requirement that has remained in force in recent months in the Asian country and that some cities had already begun to relax in recent days after registering protests.
The nucleic acid tests that urban residents had to undergo several times a week were one of the most controversial aspects of the old protocols along with the isolation of all those infected and their close contacts, sometimes in quarantine centers. with poor sanitation.
Among the new measures, the prohibition of “obstructing doors” also stands out, a practice that has been common these years in China in buildings with infected people and that has caused protests about the dangers involved. At the end of November, the death of ten people in a fire in a residential building in Urumqi (west) was attributed to an alleged blockage of escape routes. Although the authorities denied it, the outrage unleashed a wave of protests that spread throughout the country.
According to the new protocols, the detection of a positive case in a household may not result in the confinement of the entire building, neighborhood or neighborhood, but will be limited to the affected dwelling.
The Council of State emphasizes the need to “accelerate vaccination of the elderly”, asking localities to increase immunization rate among the elderly, one of the most vulnerable groups but also one of the most reluctant to get vaccinated in the Asian country.
The new package of guidelines further stipulates that classes will be face-to-face unless cases are detected at school and that the canteens and sports centers of educational institutions must function normally.
In recent days, the official press had begun to minimize the risk of the omicron variant through numerous articles and interviews with experts, a turn of argument that accompanies the relative relaxation of some of the strictest measures of the policy of ‘ zero covid’, in force for almost three years.
The authorities had already stated that the “conditions” are in place for the country to “adjust” its measures in this “new situation” in which the virus causes fewer deaths. The Government defends that it has saved millions of lives through the “zero covid” policy, which until now has consisted of isolating all those infected and their close contacts, strict border controls, partial or total confinement in places where cases are detected and constant PCR tests on the urban population.
Source: Lasexta
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
