Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the National Center for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, said that none of the decisions made mean the abandonment of this mechanism to fight the pandemic, nor a more lax approach.

He said that these are perfected and optimized methods to be more in tune with the current needs, the real situation of the pandemic and the national scenario.

He also noted that these actions will help increase the movement of people, stimulate the country’s growth and better coordinate the implementation of health protocols with socio-economic development.

Wu also urged local governments to refrain from adopting overly strict regulations against passengers and drivers arriving from other parts of the country.

The scientist said this after China shortened the centralized isolation of international travelers and close contacts of Covid-19 patients from 14 to seven days, and reduced subsequent home observation to just three days.

China also redefined the areas considered to be at high, medium or low risk of infection, and simplified mobile notification of each individual’s history of exposure.

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