China Considering Transition to With-Corona Policy... Abandoning PCR Testing and Quarantine Rules (Comprehensive Report 2)

No PCR or Health Code Required for Entry to Public Facilities
Asymptomatic and Mild Cases Allowed to Self-Isolate at Home
No Health Code Needed for Inter-Regional Travel

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] China is significantly easing its zero-COVID prevention guidelines and initiating a transition to 'With COVID.' The strict and harsh mandatory facility quarantine that heightened the fear of COVID-19 is being relaxed, allowing asymptomatic or mild patients to be treated at home. Except for some places such as nursing homes, medical facilities, and daycare centers, the requirement to present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test certificate as well as health code verification has been abolished. There is no need to present a negative PCR test result when traveling between regions, and no separate testing will be conducted upon arrival at the destination.

The Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council of China announced 10 optimized prevention measures including these on the 7th. Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission of China and deputy director of the Propaganda Department, said, "As the pathogenicity of the Omicron variant weakens, domestic epidemic prevention and control face new challenges," adding, "We will no longer verify nucleic acid negative certificates."

◆Reducing PCR Testing and Quarantine Burdens to Attempt Normalization= According to these measures, authorities have abolished or significantly eased most zero-COVID guidelines. First, they issued guidelines to reduce lockdowns, which had become symbolic of 'zero-COVID.' Even if an area is classified as high-risk, lockdowns will be divided by building, unit, floor, or household without arbitrary expansion, and all forms of temporary lockdowns will be avoided.

Optimization plans for PCR testing, which caused daily inconveniences, were also announced. Except for special places such as nursing homes, welfare facilities, medical institutions, daycare centers, and primary and secondary schools, negative certificates and health codes will no longer be checked. Major institutions and large enterprises can choose their own control measures. When traveling between regions, neither negative PCR test certificates nor health codes will be checked. Mandatory PCR testing for newly arrived individuals will no longer be conducted.

The controversial quarantine methods have also been improved. Asymptomatic and mild cases can choose between self-quarantine and centralized quarantine for treatment. During self-quarantine, health monitoring will be strengthened, and specific guidelines require passing nucleic acid tests within a certain period. Close contacts can also choose between self-quarantine and centralized quarantine, and quarantine will be lifted if they test negative on the fifth day.

Online school classes will switch to face-to-face instruction. The State Council stated that schools in each region should implement scientific and precise prevention measures but conduct normal offline educational activities if there is no epidemic. It also clarified that school cafeterias, playgrounds, and libraries should be open as usual.

Additionally, rapid lockdowns and rapid releases for high-risk areas, guaranteeing basic rights to purchase medicines, strengthening vaccination for the elderly, and improving the medical system were urged at frontline sites. Reflecting on the recent fire accident in Urumqi, Xinjiang, it emphasized that access to medical care and emergency exits should not be obstructed even during lockdowns. In particular, blocking fire emergency exits and common entrances is strictly prohibited.

Verification of negative PCR test results or health codes will also be discontinued when purchasing train tickets, boarding, or entering stations. However, specific details regarding adjustments to prevention and control measures for entering Beijing will be notified separately.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

◆"Omicron Symptoms Are Like the Flu" ? Is With COVID Coming?= Recently, China has been emphasizing the weakened pathogenicity of the Omicron variant by citing statements from many infectious disease experts and those who have experienced infection.

Jiang Zhongde, director of Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, appeared on China Central Television (CCTV) the day before and said, "The symptoms of Omicron mainly include fever, headache, sore throat, with general pain and occasional diarrhea," adding, "These are markedly different from early COVID-19 and symptoms have clearly eased." He said, "The symptoms appear very similar to the flu, and many symptoms are milder than severe flu," and "Ordinary patients usually turn negative quickly within 5 to 7 days." In addition, major state-run media such as People's Daily and Xinhua News Agency have been emphasizing through editorials that the pathogenicity of Omicron has weakened and that prevention policies should be adjusted accordingly.

This marks a clear shift in atmosphere compared to previous reports warning that a large-scale spread of COVID-19 in China, with its many elderly and poor medical facilities, could lead to a surge in deaths. In fact, the number of confirmed cases in China continues to decline. According to the National Health Commission of China, the number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide peaked at 40,052 on the 27th of last month and has decreased for nine consecutive days, reaching 25,115 (including 20,764 asymptomatic cases) as of the 6th of this month. This is the lowest figure since the 19th of last month (24,215 cases).