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Chinese workers in protective clothing (end of November in Beijing)
Photo: Andy Wong / dpa
China's strict corona measures have been debated for weeks - and sometimes demonstrated on the country's streets.
According to a report, the basis for the crackdown could soon be removed.
With the virus weakening, conditions were improving for Covid-19 to be downgraded to a serious contagious disease.
This was reported by the Chinese state news agency Yicai late Sunday (local time).
More than 95 percent of cases in China are now asymptomatic and mild, and the mortality rate is very low.
Under these circumstances, adhering to the classification of the virus does not correspond to scientific knowledge, Yicai quotes an expert on infectious diseases while maintaining anonymity.
Corona could therefore be downgraded to category B or even category C.
As of January 2020, the infectious disease is classified as Category B in China, but is managed under Category A protocols.
On the basis of this, China can enforce its zero corona policy with the strict measures.
Category A diseases in China include bubonic plague and cholera, while SARS, AIDS and anthrax fall under category B.
Category C includes influenza, leprosy and mumps, among others.
Any adjustment to the classification of infectious diseases by the National Health Commission, China's top health authority, requires the approval of the State Council or cabinet.
At the end of November, thousands of people took to the streets in several cities in the People's Republic to protest against the rigorous measures of the zero-Covid policy, such as repeated lockdowns, forced quarantines, mass tests and constant monitoring of corona apps.
In Beijing, "Unlock the lockdown" and "We don't want PCR tests, we want freedom" were shouted.
These were the largest protests in China since the pro-democracy movement, which the military brutally crushed in 1989.
The Chinese authorities are responding to the wave of protests in several cities with heavy police presence and online censorship.
In the capital Beijing and in metropolises such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou, many security forces could be seen on the streets.
In many cases, passers-by were stopped and had to show their mobile phones, which were checked for suspicious content or programs such as tunnel services (VPN) to circumvent Chinese censorship.
Western appeals to the leadership in Beijing
The strict action taken by the Chinese authorities against the protests because of the corona conditions had caused concern in the West.
The UN called on Beijing on Monday not to arbitrarily arrest participants in peaceful protests.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on the Chinese leadership to respect freedom of expression.
This weekend there was a different kind of reaction.
Despite the high number of new infections, corona regulations are being relaxed in China.
Test stations were closed and dismantled in the capital Beijing on Saturday.
From now on, a negative test is no longer necessary for going to the supermarket, and from Monday also for traveling on the subway.
However, to enter offices and other buildings, proof must still be presented that there is no corona infection.
Long queues therefore continued to form at the remaining test stations.
jok/Reuters