Chongqing embraces normality with relaxed COVID controls

Businesses and public transport in many districts in Chongqing have begun to resume operation as the COVID epidemic situation has been contained, local media has reported.

Chongqing, a city of 32 million in Southwest China, has logged more than 90,000 infections since its most recent outbreak began on Nov 1 and most cases were found in 11 districts in central urban areas.

At present, buses, light rail, taxis and other public transport in the central city of Chongqing are gradually resuming operation, according to Chongqing Transportation Bureau.

In Yuzhong district, one of the most hard-hit areas and the center of urban area, half of the banks and supermarkets, all the three-star and above hotels are open to business as of 3 pm on Friday, the local government said.

"At present, the epidemic prevention and control work in our city has achieved initial results and the rapid rise of the epidemic has been effectively contained. The prevention and control situation continues to improve," said Li Pan, deputy director of the Chongqing Health Commission, at the daily briefing on Friday afternoon.

"However, the task of preventing the rebound of the epidemic is still arduous."

On Thursday, Chongqing reported 189 newly confirmed local cases and 6,347 new asymptomatic carriers, a decrease from the previous day and most found in the high-risk areas and isolation facilities, according to figures released by the municipal Health Commission on Friday.

Chongqing has launched a plan to boost mass immunisation, especially among the elderly, ensuring a balance between disease control work and social and economic development.

So far, over 90 percent of the people aged over 60 in Chongqing have received the first dose of vaccine, according to local health commission.