The Chinese authorities continue to ease restrictions on the COVID-19 pandemic and announce that they will allow some mild or asymptomatic patients to be isolated at home.
The new instructions have indicated that individuals reporting mild or asymptomatic infections may be isolated at home for seven days, rather than being sent to a central facility. In addition, close contacts may be quarantined at home for five days.
In addition, clinicians will expand the use of rapid antigen tests, to the detriment of PCRs. Thus, PCRs will be reserved for high-risk areas.
Citizens will not need to show a negative PCR result to enter public places or travel, except when entering hospitals, schools or residences, according to the South China Morning Post newspaper.
The State Council’s announcement on Wednesday signals China’s determination to reverse its ‘COVID ZERO’ policy, which has seen unusual demonstrations in recent weeks.
«We will protect people’s safety and health as much as possible and keep the impact on social and economic development to a minimum,» the State Council’s Prevention and Control Mechanism has reported.
