Aerial photo taken on Sept. 28, 2022 shows the scenery of Eryuan West Lake in Eryuan County of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Multiple provinces and cities across China have moved to gradually loosen anti-COVID restrictions, as local residents no longer need to present negative nucleic acid test results and scan health code when entering public venues and taking public transit systems. 

Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, a popular tourism destination, will no longer require a negative nucleic acid testing result for entering scenic spots, hotels and using public transportation starting from Monday, following the local government announcing the optimization of pandemic prevention measures.

The announcement confirmed on Monday that consumers no longer need to provide negative nucleic acid test results when purchasing fever-reduction, antiviral and antibacterial medicines. 

East China’s Shangdong Province will no longer check nucleic acid test results and health code for residents entering public spaces including parks, and scenic spots. Similar to Dali, residents will also not need to report their information and nucleic acid test results when purchasing fever, cough, antiviral and antibacterial medicines. 

Shangdong also canceled the mandatory inspection requirements for entering the province at traffic terminals, ports, and high-speed highway stations. Local residents can get tested based at their own discretion. 

Hangzhou in East China’s Zhejiang Province also announced on Sunday that the city will no longer carry out normalized nucleic acid testing, though testing services will still be available in the city. 

In addition to entering elderly nursing homes, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and other designated settings, local residents do not need to scan code and provide testing results when entering public venues or using public transportation. Hangzhou residents do not need to undergo additional nucleic acid test for purchasing specified medication.  

On Wednesday, Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan underlined the importance of continually optimizing the country's response to COVID-19, while urging efforts to further improve diagnosis, testing, treatment and quarantine measures, strengthen vaccination rates, particularly for the elderly, and speed up preparation of medications and other medical resources.

Global Times