With economic growth weakening again after rebounding to 3.9% over a year earlier in the three months ending in September, forecasters had been expecting bolder steps toward reopening the country, whose borders remain largely closed.īusiness groups the policies discourage foreign executives from visiting, which has prompted companies to shift investment plans to other countries. In order to enter office buildings, shopping malls and other public places, people are required to show a negative result from a virus test taken as often as once a day. With the new surge in cases, a growing number of areas are shutting down businesses and imposing curbs on movement. “Zero-COVID” has kept China’s infection rate relatively low but weighs on the economy and has disrupted life by shutting schools, factories and shops, or sealing neighborhoods without warning. Macao will also cut its hotel quarantine period from seven days to five days, followed by three days of isolation at one’s residence, for arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas starting from Saturday, authorities there said. Formerly, two tests within that time period were required. Those flying to China will only need to show a single negative test for the virus within 48 hours of traveling, the rules said. “My life is for sure not comparable to what it was three years ago,” Ying said. “I think what it impacts most is kids because they need to go to school.”ĭemands for testing every 24 to 48 hours are “troublesome,” said Ying Yiyang, who works in marketing. “It has become normal, just like eating and sleeping,” said food service worker Yang Zheng, 39. Videos on social media showed people in some areas protesting or fighting with police and health workers. Many city schools switched to online classes, hospitals restricted services and some shops and restaurants were shuttered with their staff taken to quarantine. With the bulk of Beijing’s 21 million people undergoing near-daily testing, another 118 new cases were recorded in the sprawling city. The country reported 10,729 new cases, and more than 5 million people were confined to their homes in the southern manufacturing hub of Guangzhou and the western megacity of Chongqing. The announcement came as an upsurge in COVID-19 cases prompted Beijing to close parks and impose other restrictions. BEIJING (AP) - Travelers arriving in China will spend less time in quarantine under changes to sweeping anti-virus controls announced Friday to reduce disruptions to the economy and society.
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