China has announced major rollback from its rigid approach to tackle COVID-19 that triggered nationwide protests and allowed people with mild or no symptoms to quarantine at home rather than at dreaded centralized quarantine centres. The directive announced on Wednesday by the National health Commission (NHC) also instructed officials to halt temporary lockdowns and end testing and health code requirements for most places and for domestic travel as Chinese leadership finally relented on its long-standing zero-COVID approach amid concerns about the severe economic damage caused by the strict curbs against movement. Mass COVID testing, a key feature of government efforts to quell even small outbreaks, will be largely abandoned. China's zero-COVID measures including lengthy lockdowns have disrupted economic activity and depressed internal demand.<br />''<br />''The sweeping changes followed a meeting convened Tuesday by the Politburo, the top policymaking body of the Communist Party, strongly indicating that China is finally moving away from its zero-Covid policy – a shift away from containing the disease and into the next phase of the pandemic which is to "live with the virus" like people in other countries are trying.<br />''<br />''But during Wednesday briefing, NHC officials also cautioned that the changes "do not mean a total easing and giving up on pandemic controls." Reportedly restrictions still remain in many places, but most severe ones are removed, and experts say that new rules may take some time to percolate down to the local implementing authorities. Also, there is still scope for restrictions to be reintroduced, if necessary, in case of an uncontrolled situation as high number of daily new cases continue to emerge.<br />''<br />''Although more than 90% of China's 1.4 billion people have had at least two shots, fewer than 70% of those over age 80 are double-vaccinated, and just 40% of them have received booster shots.<br />''<br />''According to reports, Chinese citizens have expressed relief but are also concerned and perplexed about big, sudden changes. People have rushed out to buy antigen test kits and treatments for colds over fears of catching the virus. In recent weeks, Chinese officials and state media have played down the threat posed by the less-lethal omicron strain in contrast to their "dire warnings" about the dangers of COVID only a few weeks ago.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Considering the weaker virulence of Omicron, State media reported Chinese public health experts are discussing the necessity of downgrading the management of the COVID-19 response, which by law, requires the authorities to implement the strictest measures to contain it. However, there was no announcement to this effect on Wednesday which means COVID measures will still be in place until the government is comfortable that rising cases won't drag on the health care system.</span><br />