More Chinese cities ease virus rules; uneven measures cause confusion

Lack of clarity on reopening of businesses, home isolation for cases

- Tan Dawn Wei

BEIJING Even as more cities begin to loosen the noose around Covid-19 controls, uneven implementation and a lack of transparency have led to confusion and frustration.

Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Dalian, Wuhan, Urumqi, Kunming, Harbin, Shenyang, Nanning and Zhengzhou, and Jiangxi and Shandong province, have over the weekend or on Monday lifted certain levels of restrictions, especially over once-strict testing mandates.

Most places no longer require a 48-hour negative test result to take public transport or to enter public venues. Curbs on the purchase of over-the-counter cold and fever medication have also been lifted in a few cities including Beijing.

The Covid-19 easing came after protests rocked more than a dozen cities last week, including in Urumqi in the western region of Xinjiang where a deadly fire killed at least 10 people, prompting hundreds to take to the streets calling for an end to months-long lockdowns and mass testing.

Demonstrations quickly spilled over to other cities - from Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou to Zhengzhou, Hangzhou and Beijing - in the biggest display of public anger in decades, with scores of protesters arrested or called in for questioning.