China: despite the partial lifting of health restrictions, caution remains in order
In the streets of Beijing after the reopening of a shopping center on December 4, 2022. AP - Andy Wong
Text by: Stéphane Lagarde Follow
4 mins
Health restrictions are partially lifted this Monday in several Chinese megacities.
In Beijing, it is no longer necessary to present a negative test within 48 hours to take public transport.
A new relative freedom which also requires a certain adaptation of minds, after years of living in fear of the virus.
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from our correspondent in Beijing
Worried looks and the impression of going on an adventure without a safety net this morning, for these users of the Beijing metro.
No need to present your Covid test at the entrance, whereas since last spring these tests were compulsory to access public places in most cities in China.
This young civil servant feels a little apprehensive: “
I'm a little scared!
There are a lot of people taking public transport and the Covid-19 is far from gone.
Right now, a lot of people are hoarding the drugs, these are treatments to lower the fever.
That way, if you don't feel well, you take care of yourself at home.
»
State media have multiplied reassuring messages in recent days about the
less dangerous nature of Omicron
compared to previous variants.
This employee in the artificial intelligence sector wears laboratory glasses to go to work and protect himself and he is not yet completely convinced by this lifting of restrictions: "
I think that we must protect ourselves well given that the company is now open.
There are more people on the streets and on transport.
I, for example, had never worn this kind of goggles before.
I do it now, because there are no more mandatory tests.
It is up to us to fend for ourselves, to protect ourselves from the virus.
»
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You no longer need an ID card to buy aspirin
The other novelty is that there is no longer the obligation to present your identity to buy aspirin and therefore risk having your health pass blocked when antipyretic or painkiller drugs are on your prescription.
As a result, this sales manager, like many of his friends, has decided to make reservations if the epidemic ever gets carried away “
like abroad
”: “
I bought drugs to be stronger against the virus.
Even when you are young, you need to strengthen your immunity.
I took pills for the fever and to treat the common cold.
On the other hand, I did not find the traditional treatment against Covid-19.
»
Take the Covid tests between neighbors and friends
The Lianhua Qingwen treatment distributed in quarantine centers for patients affected by viral pneumonia for three years is difficult to find, the price of self-tests on the internet is soaring.
“
It's a way of preparing,
explains another Pekingese who prefers not to say what she does for a living.
If you are ever infected and have few symptoms, you can stay home until it passes with medication.
You do not do tests since they are no longer mandatory and no one will know anything about it.
Afterwards, you also need to have food reserves, because to go shopping, you always need to show a negative PCR test at the entrance to the stores.
»
Another precaution born from the D system and in response to the outbreak of cases of contamination: the fact of regrouping between neighbors and / or family to go and be tested, if for example your company requires it.
The Pekingese did not need to take out the calculator to understand it, and went when they could, in groups of ten in front of the oral Covid test booths which remain in the streets or residences of the capital.
Ten, the number of samples contained in the test tubes of these collective screening stations.
A way to avoid ending up in contact cases in the queue, while infections continue to increase.
Despite the lifting of partial health restrictions in Beijing, in schools, classes remain online in the Chinese capital.
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