CHINA-HEALTH: REPORT INDICATES THAT CHINA WILL EASE COVID QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS BY FIRST HALF OF 2023
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A report disclosed that minutes of a Meeting of the BioNtech head with ex Chief Scientist of
China CDC Zeng Guang indicated that COVID-Zero will be materially changed soon.
Reopening will be gradual. It indirectly confirmed that the meeting was chaired by PBSC
member Wang Huning. The meeting said Hongkong will reopen with the mainland before the
first half of 2023. China will also cancel the circuit breaker on international flights and reduce
foreign entry quarantine from 7+3 to 4+3/3+4. Entry to Hongkong could be earlier. It also
revealed that China is to approve the BioNTech COVID Vaccine. The Joint Prevention and
Control Mechanism of the State Council will host a press conference on November 5.
ii) The Guardian separately reported that Health officials in China on November 5 dashed
hopes there would be a relaxation of the country’s strict Covid-19 restrictions and insisted
China would “unswervingly” stick to its zero-Covid policy which includes lockdowns,
quarantining and rigorous testing aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. An official
of China’s national Health Commission Hu Xiang, said the restrictions were completely correct
and represented the most economical and effective policy for the nation. “We should adhere to
the principle of putting people and lives first, and the broader strategy of preventing imports
from outside and internal rebounds,”.
iii) Officials added they would begin a push to increase vaccinations among the elderly, noting
that while 86.4% of citizens aged 60 and above are fully vaccinated, fewer people 80 and older
have had vaccinations and boosters
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