BEIJING — China said it would stop tracking some travel, potentially reducing the likelihood people will be forced into quarantine for visiting COVID-19 hot spots, as part of an uncertain
China is dropping a travel tracing requirement as part of an uncertain exit from its strict “zero-COVID" policy. At midnight Monday, the smart phone app will cease to function. This means residents' travels will not be traced and recorded, potentially reducing the likelihood they will be forced into quarantine. The move follows the government's snap announcement last week that it was ending many of the most draconian measures. The country has had three years of lockdowns, travel restrictions, quarantines, mandated testing and requirements that a clean bill of health be shown to access public areas. While met with relief, the relaxation has also sparked concerns about a new wave of infections potentially overwhelming health resources in some areas.
China plans to stop tracking some travel, potentially reducing the likelihood people will be forced into quarantine for visiting COVID-19 hot spots. That's part of an uncertain exit from the strict pandemic policies that helped fuel widespread protests. At midnight Monday, the smart phone app that recorded a person’s travel between cities and provinces will be disabled. Another app used to restrict the movement of those who test positive or enter an area with a recent outbreak remains in effect. The move follows the government’s dramatic announcement last week that it was ending many of the strictest measures. That comes after three years during which it enforced some of the world’s tightest virus restrictions.