It is said that China Suspended or closed social media accounts to more than 1,000 critics of its policies on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Social networking platform Sina Weibo said it had dealt with 12,854 violations, permanently banning 1,120 accounts, and attacks on experts, scholars and medical workers.
The company said Thursday that it will “continue to step up investigation, clean up all kinds of illegal content, and create a harmonious and friendly community environment for the majority of users.”
The Chinese Communist Party severely limits freedom of expression, with previous methods sparking widespread protests in major cities.
As COVID RAVAGES CHINA, the United States expands the testing regimen for inbound travelers
While the Chinese Communist Party relied on healthcare professionals to justify its drastic easing efforts, the country moved quickly to roll back the restrictions, prompting a new surge.
China will no longer file criminal charges against people accused of violating border quarantine regulations, and those detained will be released.
A man wearing face masks trades Chinese Lunar New Year decorations at a sidewalk shop in Beijing on Saturday, January 7, 2023.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
China Daily’s official website said the amendments were made after “comprehensively considering the harm of behaviors to society and aiming to adapt to new situations of epidemic prevention and control.”
The number of cases and hospitalizations is increasing, even as authorities have announced that travel in the Lunar New Year is expected to double over the same period last year.
on Friday, Chinese Ministry of Transport He called for reducing trips and gatherings, especially if they include those who are at particular risk of contracting serious diseases.
Vice Minister Xu Qingguang told reporters that people using public transportation are also encouraged to wear masks and closely monitor their health.
China is continuing a plan to end mandatory quarantines for those arriving from abroad, starting Sunday, as well as removing a requirement for students in the city’s schools to return home. You have a negative COVID-19 test To enter campus when classes resume on February 13.
People wearing face masks walk along a street in Beijing, Friday, January 6, 2023.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
City Education Office He said in a statement on Friday that while schools can move classes online if there are new outbreaks, they should return to in-person instruction as soon as possible.
Chinese health authorities publish a daily tally of new cases, severe cases, and deaths. These numbers include only officially confirmed cases and use a narrow definition of COVID-related deaths.
Since the government ended compulsory testing, allowing people with mild symptoms to test themselves and recover at home, authorities say the government is no longer able to provide a full status report on recent infections.
On Saturday, the National Health Commission reported 10,681 new local cases, and three new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.
Medical workers examine an elderly patient as he arrives at the emergency room of a hospital in Beijing on Saturday, January 7, 2023.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The numbers are said to be lower than estimates from some local governments. The eastern province of Zhejiang announced on Tuesday that it was seeing about 1 million new cases per day.
Health Authority On Saturday, he issued rules to strengthen surveillance for viral mutations, including urban sewage testing. She called for increased data collection from hospitals and local government health departments, and extensive testing for “pneumonia of unknown cause”.
If a variant appears in an outbreak, it will be found through the genetic sequence of the virus.
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The World Health Organization has expressed concern about the lack of data from China, however China has backed away from the testing requirements Created by foreign governments, saying it is not scientifically based.
Its spokespeople said the situation was under control and rejected accusations of not being prepared to reopen.
The United States requires a negative test result for travelers from China within 48 hours of departure.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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