China eases restrictions on travel and manufacturing

The Chinese government said on Wednesday that people will no longer need to show negative virus tests or health codes to travel and produce in a significant easing of Covid controls. The Chinese government said on Wednesday that people will no longer need to show negative virus tests or health codes to travel between different parts of the country in a significant easing of Covid controls. Chinese authorities also said that work and local production will not be halted unless an area is designated as high-risk. The announcement on the National Health Commission’s website formalized other recent changes to Covid controls, such as allowing more people to quarantine at home. The measures also said venues should not require negative virus tests or health code checks, except for facilities such as nursing homes, primary and secondary schools and health clinics. In an example of how strict Covid controls have become in mainland China, this year in the capital Beijing people were required to undergo a health code scan with a smartphone app to enter public venues. The health code then had to show a negative virus test result from the past two or three days.