02:52China: Busy streets as Beijing returns to life following Zero-COVID U-turn
Commuters were seen crowding major roads and transport arteries in Beijing on Tuesday as people re-emerged from their homes after three years of the country’s zero-COVID policy and strict lockdown rules.
Footage shows mask-wearing passengers in packed subway trains and congested roads in the Shuangjing and Guomao subdistricts as citizens returned to their daily pre-pandemic routines.
People in Beijing mostly stayed indoors during the first weeks after President Xi Jinping’s policy U-turn, amid reports of a nationwide surge in new COVID cases, which is believed to have placed a heavy strain on funeral homes and hospitals.
China has reported no COVID deaths in the previous six days, despite the apparent surge in cases.
Chinese authorities downgraded the severity level of COVID-19 to Category B on Monday, a step down from Category A, the highest level. This major shift in epidemic response will be in effect from January 8.
Beijing has also decided to change its definition for classifying deaths as COVID-related, only fatalities involving COVID-caused pneumonia or respiratory failure will be counted.
China eased many of its ‘zero-COVID’ policies on December 7, due to widespread protests and rising economic and social costs.
02:52Commuters were seen crowding major roads and transport arteries in Beijing on Tuesday as people re-emerged from their homes after three years of the country’s zero-COVID policy and strict lockdown rules.
Footage shows mask-wearing passengers in packed subway trains and congested roads in the Shuangjing and Guomao subdistricts as citizens returned to their daily pre-pandemic routines.
People in Beijing mostly stayed indoors during the first weeks after President Xi Jinping’s policy U-turn, amid reports of a nationwide surge in new COVID cases, which is believed to have placed a heavy strain on funeral homes and hospitals.
China has reported no COVID deaths in the previous six days, despite the apparent surge in cases.
Chinese authorities downgraded the severity level of COVID-19 to Category B on Monday, a step down from Category A, the highest level. This major shift in epidemic response will be in effect from January 8.
Beijing has also decided to change its definition for classifying deaths as COVID-related, only fatalities involving COVID-caused pneumonia or respiratory failure will be counted.
China eased many of its ‘zero-COVID’ policies on December 7, due to widespread protests and rising economic and social costs.