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China eases restrictions, no indication of when ‘zero-COVID’ ends

Authorities in China eased some of the world’s most stringent anti-virus controls and authorities stated that the new variants are weaker. However, they have not indicated when they might end the ‘zero-COVID’ strategy that confines millions of people to their homes and triggered protests as well as demands for President Xi Jinping to resign.

Industrial centres, including Guangzhou near Hong Kong, reopened markets and businesses, lifting most curbs on movement while maintaining restrictions on neighborhoods with infections.
Epidemic control workers wear PPE to protect against the spread of COVID-19 as they look at a list before going inside a building with apartments where people who have tested positive are doing home quarantine on in Beijing, on December 5, 2022

According to Morgan Stanley economists, “China is not ready for a fast reopening yet.” They stated in their December 5 report, “We expect lingering containment measures...Restrictions could still tighten dynamically in lower-tier cities should hospitalisations surge.”

As per the Associated Press, the changes follow protests demanding an end to ‘zero-COVID’ but are in line with the Communist Party’s earlier promises to reduce disruption by easing quarantine and other restrictions. The changes have been highly-publicised to mollify public anger.