What’s new: Beijing residents no longer need to show a negative Covid test result to enter most public venues including supermarkets and office buildings, the local government said on Tuesday.
People can also enter residential communities without showing the nucleic acid test results, according to a government statement.
But the capital still requires residents to show a negative test result obtained within 48 hours before accessing “enclosed” places such as internet cafes, bars and karaoke rooms, as well as restaurants, gyms, kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools, the statement said.
The background: Beijing’s easing of its testing rules comes on the heels of similar moves in Shanghai, Hangzhou and several other regions on Monday, signaling the country is accelerating its shift away from its “zero-Covid” policy.
The changes are part of a broader relaxation happening in Beijing, after the city last week spared home-bound residents from Covid testing and scrapped the requirement for a negative test result obtained within 48 hours to enter hospitals, ride buses and take the subway. The change to public transportation rules took effect Monday.
However, on Saturday, Beijing denied online rumors of an imminent end to current Covid-19 controls, including the canceling of nucleic acid testing.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Jonathan Breen (jonathanbreen@caixin.com)
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