Excitement and apprehension as China eases anti-COVID-19 measures | China

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China’s downsizing of its Covid-free system has left its population reeling. Some are embracing their newfound freedoms, while others are struggling to overcome fears of infection after three years of strict restrictions.

Frustration with prolonged lockdowns and mass testing boiled over in late November into widespread protests, in the biggest display of public discontent in decades.

The government has not officially recognized the protests, but in the strongest sign yet that it is backing away from its no-spread Covid policy, the National Health Commission updated its restrictions on Wednesday, allowing people with mild symptoms to be quarantined at home. , dropping the need for tests and health checks on mobile apps for a variety of activities including traveling around the country.

Many people seem unaccustomed to the new situation and adopt a “wait and see” mentality because they are worried about getting infected. Amid reports of panic buying of fever medicine, financial news outlet Yicai cited third-party data showing the average daily sales volume of home test kits has risen more than 400 times from the November figures. The government has reassured the public that there is no need to stockpile medicines.

Domestic ticket sales to domestic tourists and entertainment venues have been on the rise since Wednesday, according to state media, and queues are starting to form at train stations again. However, road traffic levels remain below pre-Covid levels, and customers have not been rushing to restaurants and other public spaces.

“Changes are happening so fast, my brain can’t cope,” a lawyer said on the WeChat social media platform.

“I know that Covid is not so scary now, but it is still contagious,” said a post on Sina Weibo. “The fear that it brings to our hearts cannot be easily dispelled.”

Hu Xijin, a retired editor who formerly worked with the hard-line Global Times, encouraged people to bravely face the weakened virus and return to their normal lives.

People will not be locked at home anymore. “They need to work, earn money and spend it,” he said in a video posted on Weibo. “We must do our best not to get infected, but there is no need to be afraid of the weak virus… If I get infected, I will face it with courage and I hope everyone will be fine too.”

While adopting more relaxed controls, some cities have urged residents to remain vigilant and many companies have chosen to retain restrictions until a clearer picture emerges of how workplaces will be affected by the easing of strict measures.

Shanghai, which has suffered one of the country’s longest and harshest lockdowns, dropped the need for Covid tests to enter restaurants or entertainment venues on Thursday.

There could be a sharp rise in infections and deaths in a subsequent wave, health experts said, given low vaccination rates among the elderly, a lack of more effective foreign vaccines and lower natural immunity from not being exposed to the virus.

Nomura Financial Services Group said Thursday that China “may have to pay a price for its slowness in adopting a ‘living with Covid’ approach.” It said infection rates in the country did not exceed 0.13%, “far from the level required for herd immunity”.

As many as 60% of the population could be infected in the first large-scale wave before stabilizing, Feng Zijian, a former CDC official in China, told China Youth Daily. “Ultimately, about 80% to 90% of people will be infected,” he said.

State-owned China Newsweek quoted health experts as saying Thursday that the country will likely face a large-scale outbreak in a month or two.

China reported 21,165 new COVID-19 infections on December 7, down from the previous day and below a peak of 40,052 local cases on November 27. Cases have trended downward recently as authorities across China dropped testing requirements.

The country’s Covid-related death toll of 5,235 cases is very small out of a population of 1.4 billion, very low by global standards. Some experts have said the death toll could rise to more than 1.5 million if restrictions are lifted in haste.

China-watchers say they expect authorities to re-impose some degree of restrictions again if cases rise sharply, but they will likely be smaller and more localized to avoid upsetting the public.

Reuters contributed to this report

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