China eases COVID restrictions in several cities

Several cities in China are announcing an easing of lockdown restrictions, indicating a potential easing of the country’s strict zero-COVID policy that recently triggered widespread protests.
During a meeting with the National Health Commission, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan noted that China was entering a “new stage” in its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Sun stated, “With the decreasing toxicity of the Omicron variant, the increasing vaccination rate and the accumulating experience of outbreak control and prevention, China’s pandemic containment faces new stage and mission.”
Authorities lifted lockdowns in some parts of Guangzhou. The city’s health officials also stated they would be working to minimize the “inconvenience caused to the public” by the COVID restrictions.
China’s state media further reported that 24 “high-risk” districts in Shanghai had been released from lockdown measures.