China says COVID control measures should be lifted soon

On November 22, 2022, residents line up to take the nucleic acid tests in Chongqing. The PHOTO THE PAPER COVID 19 control measures should be lifted in a timely manner as soon as conditions allow to minimize the inconveniences caused by the restrictions on people's daily lives, said Mi Feng, spokesman for the National Health Commission on Tuesday.

Cheng Youquan, an official at the National Administration for Disease Prevention and Control, said that some places are facing the most complicated and severe outbreaks they have seen in the last three years.

Certain areas have arbitrarily expanded the scope of areas and people placed under COVID 19 control, while others have implemented restrictions for excessively long periods and implemented prevention and control management tactics without approval, he said at a news conference.

The State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism has responded to the problems reported by people and netizens and has shared the concerns with local governments, and has been set up by local authorities to rectify such superfluous restrictions.

The 20 recently adjusted measures to improve epidemic control are based on science and supported by evidence, and should be strictly implemented together with the ninth COVID 19 control protocol, he said.

READ MORE: Urumqi rolls out policies to help COVID-impacted residents.

The Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council also issued guidelines on nucleic acid testing, identifying and managing risk areas, home quarantine and home health supervision, Cheng said.

He added that the risk of COVID 19 infection can be reduced as long as the measures and guidelines are implemented.

China will increase COVID 19 vaccinations for elderly people, health officials said on Tuesday.