• Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
ABOUT
Advertise in GAT
Contact us
Monday, May 29, 2023
Georgia Asian Times
International Insurance of Georgia
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
No Result
View All Result
Georgia Asian Times
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts
Home Misc Asia

China begins implementing relaxed anti-COVID-19 measures

The National Health Commission issued relaxed anti-pandemic regulations on Wednesday, including a loosening of lockdowns and the elimination of a requirement that a recent negative COVID-19 test be shown to enter most public places.

Georgia Asian Times by Georgia Asian Times
December 8, 2022
in Misc Asia
China begins implementing relaxed anti-COVID-19 measures
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Beijing, December 7, 2022 — China began implementing a more relaxed version of its strict “zero COVID” policy on Thursday amid steps to restore normal life, but also trepidation over a possible broader outbreak once controls are eased.

The country reported 21,165 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, though it was unclear whether the lower number reflected fewer infections or a reduction in testing.

The National Health Commission issued relaxed anti-pandemic regulations on Wednesday, including a loosening of lockdowns and the elimination of a requirement that a recent negative COVID-19 test be shown to enter most public places.

The commission said it was due to “positive results” in fighting the virus and because of a recognition that the current omicron variant is less dangerous than earlier versions of the virus — a fact long embraced by other countries that have reopened their societies.

AD: High Museum of Atlanta AD: High Museum of Atlanta

“Our country’s epidemic prevention and control work is facing new situations and new tasks,” commission spokesperson Mi Feng said. Neither Mi nor other experts appearing with him at a briefing Thursday addressed the possibility of a new outbreak once restrictions are eased.

The relaxation also follows street protests — the largest in decades — by people fed up with the draconian controls, which have been blamed for hobbling the economy, upending millions of lives and causing the deaths of some people refused hospital treatment because they lacked proper test results.

“This is an inevitable trend. We must let go sooner or later, and we can’t always stick to previous measures,” said Xin Guijun, a 70-year-old Beijing resident.

“However, one thing is that we are on our own to protect ourselves, and we must cultivate our own awareness of personal protection,” Xin told The Associated Press.

While the relaxation sent a wave of relief through Chinese society, much uncertainty remains and the move was not met with universal acclaim.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert and a critic of China’s reliance on lockdowns, said China risked unleashing a new wave of virus mutations on the world if it doesn’t “mount and implement a proactive vaccination campaign.”

“Whenever you have a large wave of transmissions of a virus, you give it ample opportunity to mutate,” Fauci said Wednesday at an event organized by the Financial Times newspaper.

“And when you give a virus opportunity to mutate, that allows it to form potentially new variants. And once you get a brand-new variant, that could have an impact on the rest of the world,” Fauci said.

Fauci and other foreign health officials have urged Beijing to import Western COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNA technology, considered more effective than the inactivated vaccines developed by China. Chinese officials have so far ignored such calls.

The changes announced Wednesday include a renewed commitment to vaccinate vulnerable groups and the elderly, whose levels of immunization are far lower than the population as a whole. China has administered 3.4 billion doses to its 1.4 billion people, or about 2.4 doses per person, indicating that large numbers have not received the recommended three shots.

China’s difficulties are compounded by the fact that only a small number of people have been exposed to the virus under “zero COVID,” leaving most with no natural antibodies.

In an editorial on the Wednesday announcement, the official Xinhua News Agency said the changes were “introduced based on the latest epidemic situation and mutation of the virus to contain the epidemic in a more science-based and targeted manner.”

Xinhua emphasized the need to “rectify oversimplified or one-size-fits-all approaches and excessive policy steps, oppose and curb pointless formalities and bureaucratism.”

China has not formally abandoned “zero COVID,” which seeks to track and eliminate all infections, but its recent steps seem to indicate it is dropping it in all but name.

The ruling Communist Party credits the policy with sparing China the large numbers of cases and deaths seen in other countries.

China’s official death toll is 5,235 since the start of the pandemic, versus a U.S. count of 1.1 million. – AP

 

Tags: chinaCovid-19
Previous Post

Democratic Sen. Warnock wins Georgia runoff against Walker

Next Post

Apple: Most iCloud data can now be end-to-end encrypted

Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times

Related Posts

New Chinese ambassador to US taking office amid disputes over trade, access to technology, Taiwan
Misc Asia

New Chinese ambassador to US taking office amid disputes over trade, access to technology, Taiwan

May 24, 2023
Thailand’s victorious progressive Move Forward Party, 7 allies agree on coalition platform
Misc Asia

Thailand’s victorious progressive Move Forward Party, 7 allies agree on coalition platform

May 23, 2023
South Korea to send 21-member team to Japan to review discharge plans at Fukushima nuclear plant
Misc Asia

South Korea to send 21-member team to Japan to review discharge plans at Fukushima nuclear plant

May 19, 2023
Thailand’s opposition parties, after stunning election win, set plans to enlist allies to take power
Misc Asia

Thailand’s opposition parties, after stunning election win, set plans to enlist allies to take power

May 15, 2023
ASEAN leaders condemn attack on aid convoy in Myanmar
Misc Asia

ASEAN leaders condemn attack on aid convoy in Myanmar

May 10, 2023
Biden to host Indian leader Modi June 22 during state visit
Misc Asia

Biden to host Indian leader Modi June 22 during state visit

May 10, 2023
Next Post

Apple: Most iCloud data can now be end-to-end encrypted

Signup Free E-Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Jul 14
6:00 pm - 10:30 pm

GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia 2023

View Calendar
Logo

 

CONTACT US

Follow Us

MOST INFLUENTIAL

2023 GAT 25 Most Influential Asian American Pacific Islanders in Georgia

2023 GAT 25 Most Influential Asian American Pacific Islanders in Georgia

April 30, 2023
GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans Gala celebrates Asian voice

GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans Gala celebrates Asian voice

July 18, 2022

Video highlights of GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia

July 17, 2022

LINKS OF INTEREST

ATL Asian Film Festival

     

GAT AAPI SUMMIT 2023

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise in GAT
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 Georgia Asian Times - Empowered by 8SOL. Managed by Arckopolis.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Metro Asian News
  • Misc Asia
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Art
  • Health
  • Eat Out
  • Events
  • Podcasts

© 2023 Georgia Asian Times - Empowered by 8SOL. Managed by Arckopolis.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Early Bird (May 19-31, 2023)

  • Honoree

    $225.00
    Select
  • Single Seat

    $225.00
    Select
  • Table of 8

    $1,800.00
    Select

Subscribe

Stay ahead of the curve with Georgia Asian Times’ exclusive newsletter. Get the hottest news stories and cultural insights delivered straight to your inbox. No subscription fees, just pure Asian excellence

 

    Loading
    Loading
    Loading
    Loading
    Loading
    Register for FREE to read the rest of this article, or log in to your account.

      Or Login Here :

      [loginfrm]

      Are you sure want to unlock this post?
      Unlock left : 0
      Are you sure want to cancel subscription?