China eases anti-COVID measures following protests

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOE McDONALD 59 minutes ago

BEIJING (AP) — China rolled back rules on isolating people with COVID-19 and dropped virus test requirements for some public places Wednesday in a dramatic change to a strategy that confined millions of people to their homes and sparked protests and demands for President Xi Jinping to resign.

The move adds to earlier easing that fueled hopes Beijing was scrapping its “zero COVID” strategy, which is disrupting manufacturing and global trade. Experts warn, however, that restrictions can’t be lifted completely until at least mid-2023 because millions of elderly people still must be vaccinated and the health care system strengthened.

China is the last major country still trying to stamp out transmission of the virus while many nations switch to trying to live with it. As they lift restrictions, Chinese officials have also shifted to talking about the virus as less threatening — a possible effort to prepare people for a similar switch.

People with mild cases will be allowed for the first time to isolate at home, the National Health Commission announced, instead of going to sometimes overcrowded or unsanitary quarantine centers. That addresses a major irritation that helped to drive protests that erupted Nov. 25 in Shanghai and other cities.



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[AZLD4Candidate]

1. We'll see. Where I am in China, people don't believe and are waiting to see if they will be

lied to again.

[XorXor]

2. What do you me by "lied to again"? What happened before?

You're in China? From your perspective, how do the regular folks you know view the protests and restrictions?

I'm always interested in hearing from people on the ground in places like China. Often times reports and stories are slanted toward a specific narrative (pro or against) that it's hard to determine the accuracy.

[AZLD4Candidate]

3. The people I live around openly say when not in public that the CCP

are a bunch of liars, thieves, and murderers. They know Beijing lies through it's teeth, but the national character of the Chinese people through history has been one of patience.

I believe the protests will slowly go away has Winnie the Flu starts realizing his crap isn't working and may cost him everything. And since nothing is happening in the country to protest, I doubt it will succeed.

If the farmers are protesting, then the CCP is in deep trouble.

[XorXor]

4. Do you use a VPN to post on here?

I had a friend from Europe to moved to China the early 2000's. He built a life there by getting married to a Chinese woman and having at least one kid (maybe more by now). About six years ago he expressed concerns about how secure his communications were and was asking for advice on how to ensure his communications was secure. He said things change a lot since when he first moved there. I lost contact with him several years ago, and I am not sure if he's still there or if he moved back to Europe with his family.

Also, is it accurate that blanket criticism of the CCP is generally accepted, but they get more upset when specific people are criticized?

[AZLD4Candidate]

5. Yes I do. And yes. I've lived in three parts of China and speak fluent Mandarin

it's amazing what you overhear when people don't think you know how to speak or understand them.

Southern China is more militant in their disdain for the CCP than Northern China.