COVID controls eased in Hangzhou

Starting on Monday, passengers traveling to and from Hangzhou East Railway Station in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, will no longer be required to provide negative nucleic acid test results or have a venue code scanned, local media reported.

Inbound passengers will also be exempted from compulsory nucleic acid testing upon arrival, with only a health code check needed.

However, travelers leaving Hangzhou by air will still have to show proof of a negative test result taken within 48 hours.

The moves come after an overnight notice from Hangzhou authorities intended to further optimize COVID-19 control measures.

The notice said mass nucleic acid testing will cease on Monday, while residents can get tests as needed, as testing services will be provided.

Except for places such as nursing homes, kindergartens and elementary and secondary schools, negative nucleic acid test results will not be required for public transportation, including buses, subways and public venues, the notice said.

Apart from Hangzhou, other cities in Zhejiang province, including Ningbo and Wenzhou, have followed suit and issued similar notices to ease COVID-19 controls and get people's lives back to normal.