Beijing: In the wake of protests across China over the world's strictest curbs, China is easing COVID-19 restrictions and some restrictions on Coronavirus.
Several cities in the world's second-largest economy, while still reporting new infections, are breaking with practice by lifting district lockdowns and allowing businesses to reopen.
The protests, which ranged from candlelight vigils in Beijing to altercations with the police on the streets of Guangzhou on Tuesday and at an iPhone factory in Zhengzhou last week, were not mentioned by the health authorities when they announced the relaxation of the restrictions.
The protests were the biggest show of dissent since Xi Jinping took power a decade ago.
Despite near-record cases of the Omicron virus, China's vice premier says its ability to cause disease is weakening, state media report. "The country is facing a new situation and new tasks in epidemic prevention and control," Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said. More people are vaccinated and experience in containing the virus is accumulated, he said.
The mention of weakening pathogenicity contrasts with earlier messages from authorities about the deadliness of the virus.
One district said it would allow in-person classes in schools and restaurants and other businesses to reopen. A community of thousands in east Beijing is allowing infected people with mild symptoms to isolate at home.
Residents living above and below the home of a positive case should also quarantine at home, a committee member has said.
Another nearby community is holding an online poll on the possibility of isolating those suspected of having COVID. Business leaders welcome the move by residents, who will be able to vote regardless of the outcome.
Beijing and Chongqing will allow close contact with people with COVID, who meet certain conditions, to quarantine at home. Zhengzhou in central China announced the "orderly" resumption of businesses, including supermarkets, gyms and restaurants. National health officials said this week that
COVID rules should be implemented more flexibly, according to the region's conditions.
Health experts warn of widespread illness and death if COVID is let loose before vaccination is ramped up. Expectations have grown around the world that China could look to re-open at some point next year. More COVID outbreaks could weigh on China's economic activity in the near term.
Analysts estimate at least 27 demonstrations took place across China from Saturday to Monday, with one think tank estimating 43 protests in 22 cities. China's strict measures have dampened domestic economic activity this year and spilt over to other countries through supply chain disruptions.
But images of protests began to spread on WeChat, a ubiquitous Chinese social networking platform used by over 1 billion, in the wake of a deadly fire in the western city of Urumqi Friday. Many suspected that lockdown measures prevented residents from escaping the flames, something the government denies.
Videos of hundreds protesting in Shanghai started to appear on WeChat Saturday night. Showing chants about removing COVID-19 restrictions and demanding freedom, they would only stay up for only minutes before being censored.
Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on the country’s internet via a complex, multi-layered censorship operation that blocks access to almost all foreign news and social media, and blocks topics and keywords considered politically sensitive or detrimental to the Chinese Communist Party’s rule. Videos of or calls to protest are usually deleted immediately.