10 New Measures Adopted For Covid-19 Control
On December 7, the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism released “10 new measures” to further optimize the country’s Covid-19 response. The new mechanism clarifies that in most cases, those with asymptomatic and mild cases of infection can either self-isolate at home when conditions allow or choose to stay in central quarantine facilities. Most public places no longer require visitors to show negative nucleic acid test results or present digital health codes, except for some special cases at healthcare centers, medical facilities, kindergartens and schools. Furthermore, domestic travelers are not bound by the previous strict rules such as the need for a negative nucleic acid test and a green health code. Apart from emphasizing continuous acceleration of vaccination of elderly people and other vulnerable groups, other highlighted measures include a strict ban on blocking fire exits, doors or pathways of communities, and authorities should ensure that people can access emergency medical treatment and escape routes despite pandemic control measures.
According to health authorities, the new measures are due to the current pandemic situation which is dominated by the more transmissible Omicron variant, plus its reduced severity. It also clarifies this new optimization does not mean giving up, but it is to address the characteristics of the main virus strains circulating domestically. “China has been paying close attention to changes in the virus and the disease, while adjusting and strengthening capacity building, and has been studying the conditions for the adjustment of prevention and control strategies, continuously and dynamically optimizing measures according to the time and situation, and is looking for the best prevention and control plan,” said Liang Wannian, head of the Covid-19 Expert Team of the National Health Commission (NHC).
Wang Hesheng, deputy director of the NHC and director of the National Administration for Disease Control and Prevention, commented that the country’s optimization measures are very prudent and made on the basis of previous prevention and control practices to address realistic problems. After the new measures were announced, restrictions on Covid-19 prevention and control were removed across the country. According to Chinese online travel agency Ctrip, searches for airline tickets soared by 160 percent immediately after the release of the adjusted policies.
Wei Xiang, a researcher at the Research Institute of Financial Strategy with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Newschina that the new measures followed by local subsequent actions to ease pandemic controls will likely see an income rebound for both tourist spots and hotels within the next three months. He said that in the long term, the tourism industry is likely to reach the peak of recovery by the summer of 2023, and then cultural and tourism consumption will gradually flatten until the first half of 2024.
China has announced that the quarantine requirement for arrivals from abroad is to end on January 8, 2023.