China signals shift in stance on Covid as some measures eased
The Guardian|December 02, 2022
One of China's most senior pandemic response officials said on Wednesday that the country was entering a "new stage and mission", in the latest indication of the government's changing approach after mass protests against its zero-Covid policy.
Helen Davidson
China signals shift in stance on Covid as some measures eased

Sun Chunlan, China's vice-premier, made the comments to national health officials, according to the Xinhua state media outlet. It came as several regions, including Shanghai, began to lift lockdowns despite continuing high case numbers.

Sun was reported to have said: "With the decreasing pathogenicity of the Omicron variant, the increasing vaccination rate and the accumulating experience of outbreak control and prevention, China's pandemic containment faces a new stage and mission."

She was attending a roundtable meeting of health experts, who Xinhua said praised China's efforts before offering suggestions on "improving" current measures. Sun said China was taking a more "humane approach" with its outbreak responses. Like the health officials who addressed the country on Tuesday, she did not refer to the "dynamic zero-Covid" policy by name, but instead emphasised vaccinations and other measures.

This story is from the December 02, 2022 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 02, 2022 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView All
Bayern mull shock reprieve for Tuchel as options tail off
The Guardian

Bayern mull shock reprieve for Tuchel as options tail off

Bayern Munich are prepared to perform a dramatic U-turn on Thomas Tuchel after encountering problems in their attempts to replace him.

time-read
1 min  |
May 16, 2024
Palmer's header leads Blues towards Europe
The Guardian

Palmer's header leads Blues towards Europe

Perhaps Mauricio Pochettino is onto something after all? A fourth successive victory thanks to Cole Palmer's 27th goal of the season and another from substitute Christopher Nkunku was the latest indication that Chelsea's road to recovery is gathering pace despite a mindless late red card for captain Reece James.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 16, 2024
Højlund comes off bench to settle see-saw battle
The Guardian

Højlund comes off bench to settle see-saw battle

Manchester United are up to 57 points, the same as Newcastle United, who headed back to the north-east pondering precisely how they lost a toe-to-toe contest played out at breakneck speed.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 16, 2024
Guardiola's nerves: 'I suffered from minute one'
The Guardian

Guardiola's nerves: 'I suffered from minute one'

Manchester City have come to embody clinical success, but emotion was everywhere during crucial win at Spurs

time-read
4 mins  |
May 16, 2024
McIlroy returns to scene of last major win in form and untroubled by noise
The Guardian

McIlroy returns to scene of last major win in form and untroubled by noise

World No 2 triumphed in Louisville in 2014 and goes into this year's tournament on the back of two victories

time-read
3 mins  |
May 16, 2024
Raspberry Pi lifts London market with plans for UK flotation
The Guardian

Raspberry Pi lifts London market with plans for UK flotation

The Cambridge-based technology company Raspberry Pi has confirmed its intention to float in the UK, in a significant boost to the London Stock Exchange.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 16, 2024
Australia's richest woman calls on gallery to remove her portrait
The Guardian

Australia's richest woman calls on gallery to remove her portrait

The mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has demanded the National Gallery of Australia remove her portrait from an exhibition by the award-winning artist Vincent Namatjira.

time-read
1 min  |
May 16, 2024
Manhunt intensifies in France as officers killed in ambush named
The Guardian

Manhunt intensifies in France as officers killed in ambush named

Two French prison officers who were shot dead in an ambush that freed a convict linked to gangland drug killings were named yesterday, as police continued a massive hunt for the fugitive.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 16, 2024
Georgia 'returning to the past', with anti-western law
The Guardian

Georgia 'returning to the past', with anti-western law

Georgia is \"returning to the past\" through the new foreign agents law, the president of the former Soviet state said yesterday, as EU ministers urged the government to \"take a way out\".

time-read
3 mins  |
May 16, 2024
Relations between Egypt and Israel worsen over Rafah
The Guardian

Relations between Egypt and Israel worsen over Rafah

Israel and Egypt were embroiled in a diplomatic row over the Rafah border crossing yesterday amid warnings that Cairo could be planning to downgrade relations between the two countries.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 16, 2024