“Finally! I will no longer worry about getting infected or being taken away as a close contact,” one person wrote on Chinese social media Wednesday. Another asked: “Can anyone explain to me what’s happening? Why is the change all of a sudden and so major?”
China’s National Health Commission announced a swathe of new freedoms on December 7, scrapping the harshest rules of its zero-COVID strategy just a week after landmark protests. People with mild or asymptomatic cases can now isolate at home rather than in state facilities. They no longer need to show tests for most venues and can travel more freely inside the country.
The shift did not come from a single decision. An insider with China’s health system told The Diplomat that Beijing aimed to modify the policy incrementally following the 20th Party Congress in October. The first sign appeared November 11, when the central government published “20 Points on Improving COVID Control” to tune down excessive lockdown measures. Those points brought confusion to local officials because they contradicted the strong defense of zero COVID in the Party Congress report.
On November 13, Shijiazhuang decided to end mandatory tests and restrictions on visiting public spaces, citing the 20 Points. Rising cases forced the city to reinstall strict lockdowns a week later. Then came the Urumqi apartment fire on November 24 and nationwide anti-lockdown protests. Facing angry crowds, frontline social workers opened locked-down communities. Local officials did not receive clear signals from Beijing for several days. Many conceded to protesters’ demands to cool the situation.
By December 1, Guangzhou ended city-wide lockdowns and mandatory mass testing. Tianjin and Beijing followed. Other cities, including Hefei and Jinzhou, doubled down. Jinzhou’s government declared it would be a pity to achieve zero COVID but decide not to.
On December 7, the State Council released the “New Ten Points” — new guidelines meant to crack down on extreme lockdowns by highlighting “scientific” and “precise” implementation. A State Council spokesperson declared the shift did not mean China would “completely open up”; the policy would change incrementally by “taking small steps.” Local officials did not implement the New Ten Points as written. They stopped drawing high-risk areas altogether. They did not enforce home quarantine for positive cases. Some even required officials to work despite fevers.
The rushed opening-up did not come from Beijing. It resulted from local governments interpreting central signals and getting ahead of policy implementation. Cadres identified the New Ten Points as a “changing wind” and nationally recognized expert Zhong Nanshan saying 99 percent of patients recover in 7 to 10 days as primary signals. They rushed to re-open, fearing they might get left behind.
Over 30,000 infections are now reported each day. The medical system faces strain. Early findings suggest the transition will be uneven. Patients should monitor symptoms closely. The encouraging part is that lateral flow tests replace PCR tests in most scenarios, and lockdowns should only apply to targeted areas — certain buildings, units or floors rather than whole neighbourhoods. High-risk areas should come out of lockdown in five days if no new cases are found. Talk to your doctor about vaccination and booster timing. Consult your doctor for guidance specific to your health.
Sources
- How Beijing Accidentally Ended the Zero COVID Policy – The Diplomat
- China abandons key parts of zero-Covid strategy after protests
