The Chinese government eases COVID rules amid dire economic conditions
The Chinese government has initiated a new round of easing COVID-19 control measures in the country, which includes examples such as not requiring hospitalization for patients with moderate symptoms and also relaxing testing regulations. For outside observers, such easements may seem insignificant, but for Chinese citizens who have lived under these rules for a long time, they are a significant achievement.
These changes are happening gradually as new statistics indicate a severe weakening of the Chinese economy and trade. Exports, imports, and the circulation of goods in China in November decreased to the very low levels seen at the beginning of the COVID crisis when the economy and society in Europe and half of America were shut down. Lockdowns and quarantines, which have been a key policy of China’s leader Xi Jinping, are the sole factors behind such a remarkable decline.