China moved definitively away from its long-held COVID zero approach Wednesday, easing a range of restrictions that it has persisted with way after the rest of the world moved on to living with the virus.
By jettisoning key tenets of the virus elimination strategy, including forcing infected people into centralized quarantine camps, China is suddenly shifting gear faster than expected. The accelerated pace reflects pressure on President Xi Jinping to chart a path out of the crisis and quell public discontent.
Less than a month after starting the reopening process by issuing 20 guidelines to local officials to minimize disruption from looser rules, the National Health Commission set out 10 new measures to assist the move away from COVID zero. Markets appeared to be taken aback by how far-reaching the steps were, despite a buildup in expectations in recent weeks. An initial rally fizzled as some investors worried about a spike in infections and chaos that might ensue.
