China has moved one step closer to reopening by relaxing its Covid-19 control measures and allowing some who test positive to isolate at home. Although home isolation has already been quietly implemented for some in cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou, the official announcement by the State Council task force signals China’s determination to back down from its zero-Covid policy. China relaxes Covid 19 controls; allow home isolation for mild cases.
“We will protect people’s safety and health to the greatest [extent] and keep the impact on social and economic development to a minimum,” the State Council Prevention and Control Mechanism said on Wednesday. Under the new nationwide instructions, people with mild or are asymptomatic infections may isolate at home for seven days, instead of being sent to a central facility.
Their close contacts may also quarantine at home for five days. High-risk and low-risk areas will be designated at the building level, and residential complexes should not be totally sealed off. China will also expand the use of rapid antigen tests (RAT) instead of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, only giving PCR tests to those in high-risk areas and occupations, and testing others only on a voluntary basis.
People no longer need to show a negative PCR result or a health code to enter public venues or to travel, except when entering hospitals, schools and homes for the elderly. Residential complexes should no longer be totally sealed off. Instead, high-risk and low-risk areas will be designated at building level, potentially affecting a single floor or even just one household.
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The new policy stressed that basic social and medical services need to be provided. People’s movements, work and production should not be restricted in low-risk areas. Those working in hospitals, public security, transport, supermarkets, electricity and heating should be exempted from regular restrictions and managed differently, the State Council said.
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