The authorities in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, lost no time in implementing the latest COVID-19 policy modifications announced by the central government on Friday afternoon.
The latest modifications made to China's COVID-19 policy — such as shortening quarantine time and limiting contact tracing — are aimed at adjusting to new viral mutations, integrating fresh scientific evidence, and managing limited resources in a vast country more efficiently, health authorities said on Saturday.
China will cut COVID-19 quarantine period for incoming travelers from 10 to 8 days, cancel the circuit breaker for inbound flights and no longer determine secondary close contacts of confirmed cases, health authorities said on Friday.
A number of cities in China have started offering free flu shots for the elderly and other vulnerable groups as experts said this winter's flu season could be tough due to declining immunity against the disease and lingering threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guide to wearing masks amid COVID-19 for general public
China's top drug regulator said on Monday that it has granted conditional approval for a homegrown oral pill to be used to treat COVID-19 disease, adding to the growing medical arsenal against the novel coronavirus.
China released its first diagnosis and treatment guideline for monkeypox on June 15, making it clear that the virus can spread through close contact and droplets, but most patients can recover without special treatment.
Modifications to China's COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment guidelines are aimed at relieving strains on the medical system in the face of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
