China Downgrades Management of Covid-19 Infections

It is based on the dominant variant of the virus in circulation. Compared to previous variants, the Omicron variants now spreading across the world have a much higher infection rate but lower pathogenicity. The NHC has renamed the term “novel coronavirus pneumonia” to “novel coronavirus infection.” 　

People infected with Covid-19 will no longer be put into quarantine and close contacts will no longer be tracked in category B management. Inbound international passengers will no longer need a test on arrival, nor be quarantined. However, travelers still need proof of a 48-hour negative test before their journey. 　

The government will concentrate more efforts on key groups, including seniors above 65 years old and those with serious underlying diseases or low immunity. The NHC has ordered to promote booster vaccines among key groups and increase medication stockpiles and ICU beds. 

To prevent overwhelming strain on hospitals, the NHC said health authorities must improve the graded diagnosis and treatment system under which people with mild symptoms are encouraged to rest at home or visit community-level clinics, while those with severe symptoms can be transferred to bigger hospitals. Community-level clinics are required to keep a close eye on high-risk people to ensure a quick response. A coordination system between villages, counties and towns will be established to ensure medication distribution and timely transfer of critical patients. 　

In an interview with State media China Central Television, Liang Wannian, leader of the NHC’s Covid-19 prevention team, emphasized that downgrading the seriousness of the virus does not mean “doing nothing,” but is rather a “scientific and orderly” adjustment. “The adjustment aims to control the pandemic more precisely and scientifically, use resources more efficiently and better balance between pandemic control and economic development,” he said. 　

Several Chinese cities and provinces, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province and the populous Henan and Sichuan provinces, announced they have crested the peak of the first surge of Covid-19 infections, with daily new case numbers dropping and commercial activities having resumed. 　

In the meantime, experts have warned of a possible second surge as the Lunar New Year travel rush, known as chunyun, has already begun. Hundreds of millions of people who are expected to return home or travel for the holidays will flock to railways and airports and travel across the country. As variants are still spreading overseas, many local governments said their task is to establish an early warning and monitoring system for new surges. 　

At a press conference on January 14, Jiao Yuhui, NHC medical affairs director, revealed that from December 8, 2022 to January 12, 2023, a total of 59,938 people died due to Covid-19 infections in hospitals across the country. Among these, 5,503 died of respiratory failure caused by the virus, and 54,435 had underlying conditions combined with the virus. Patients who died in hospital had an average age of 80.3.