MNI BRIEF: China Eases Covid Controls In Bid To Boost Growth

China lifted its negative Covid-19 test requirements for cross-region travelers among the 10 new Covid management measures introduced on Wednesday, according to a statement released by National Health Commission on its website.

Local authorities should limit the definition of high-risk areas to buildings, units and floors, and shall not arbitrarily expand the scope or adopt any form of temporary lockdown, the notice said.

The scope and frequency of nucleic acid testing should be reduced further. No negative test result is required except for entering special places such as nursing homes, welfare homes, medical institutions, childcare institutions, and primary and secondary schools. Covid patients without symptoms or mild cases can also choose to isolate at home. Localities should focus on increasing the vaccination rate of people aged above 60, it said.

Chinese markets initially rallied on the easing of Covid restrictions. (See EQUITIES : China/HK Markets Recover After Covid Restrictions Eased Further)