Ten days of anti-quarantine protests in several of China's major cities and finally an announcement by the government on Wednesday 7 December. After sending in the police to put down demonstrations against the anti-Covid isolation measures, the time has come for appeasement. And a return to pragmatism!
Without saying so officially, China is in fact entering the post "Zero-Covid" period. This was the last country to continue to drastically restrict residents' freedom of movement with excessive and restrictive anti-Covid measures. With less and less success.
Hence the decision to significantly ease restrictions from Wednesday. China is finally adopting the same approach as the rest of the world, which is now prepared to live with the virus.
Measures similar to other Asian countries
What are the Chinese government's new measures? East the requirement to present a green sanitary QR code to enter most public places has been abolished (supermarkets, museums, shopping centres, public transport). Just like the compulsory daily travel test. Travellers from one province to another will no longer need to be tested and present the famous QR code, for example.. However, the latter remains in force for entry into medical institutions or schools.
Finally, theeople with asymptomatic covid and close contacts should simply isolate themselves at home instead of quarantining in centralised prison-like units. Large-scale quarantine may still be applied in high-risk areas. But it will be limited geographically and in time.
However, the lifting of restrictions does not mean that China is opening its doors wide to foreign travellers.. The same constraints on travel to the country remain. As do restrictions on Chinese travellers outside the country's borders. However, for the few business people authorised to travel to China, the relaxation of the rules will be welcome.
Hong Kong: another small step towards normality
For its part, the Hong Kong said on Thursday 8 December that the isolation period for Covid-19 patients and their close contacts would be reduced from seven to five days. Just like theobligation for all travellers arriving in Hong Kong to undergo daily rapid antigen tests. It also moves to five days instead of seven.
However, the current social distancing measures, in particular the compulsory wearing of masks, remain in place. The use of an application generating a health QR code and the tracing of contacts in public buildings, bars and restaurants will continue until 28 December.
