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BEIJING, Dec. 13 (AP) — Some Chinese universities say they will allow students to complete their semesters at home in an attempt to reduce the chances of a larger COVID-19 outbreak during January’s Lunar New Year travel rush.
It was unclear how many schools participated, but universities in Shanghai and nearby cities said students could choose to go home early or stay on campus and be tested every 48 hours. This year, Jan. 22 falls on the Lunar New Year, traditionally China’s busiest travel season.
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There have been frequent lockdowns at universities over the past three years, sometimes leading to clashes between authorities and students confined to campuses and even dormitories.
Tuesday’s announcement comes as China begins to relax its strict “zero COVID” policy, allowing people with mild symptoms to stay at home rather than be sent to quarantine centers, among other changes following widespread protests.
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China has stopped tracking some travel beginning Tuesday, potentially reducing the likelihood that people will be quarantined for visiting COVID-19 hotspots.
The move follows the government’s dramatic announcement last week that it would end many of the strictest measures after three years of enforcing some of the world’s strictest virus restrictions.
In Beijing and several other cities last month, protests against the restrictions turned into calls for the resignation of leader Xi Jinping and the Communist Party — a level of public dissent not seen in decades.
While relieved, the relaxation has also raised concerns that a new wave of infections could overwhelm medical resources in some areas.
The easing of measures has meant a sharp drop in testing, but cases still appear to be rising rapidly, with many people testing themselves at home, away from hospitals. China reported 7,451 new infections on Monday, bringing the national total to 372,763, more than double the level on Oct. 1. The death toll was 5,235, compared with 1.1 million in the United States.
Data provided by the Chinese government has not been independently verified, raising questions about whether the ruling Communist Party is trying to minimize the number of cases and deaths.
U.S. consulates in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang and the central city of Wuhan will begin providing emergency services on Tuesday “in response to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases,” the State Department said.
“The Chinese delegation is making every effort to ensure that U.S. citizens living in China have access to full consular services, but further disruptions may occur,” said an email using the initials of China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.
Xi Jinping’s government remains formally committed to stopping the spread of the virus, the last major country to try. But the latest move suggests the party will tolerate more cases without quarantining or closing travel or businesses as its “zero COVID” strategy winds down.
In an unpredictable message from Beijing, experts warned that the ruling party could still change course and reimpose restrictions if a large outbreak ensues.
The policy change came after protests broke out after a Nov. 25 fire in the northwestern city of Urumqi killed 10 people. Many have questioned whether COVID-19 restrictions have hindered relief efforts. Authorities denied the claims circulated online, but demonstrators expressed long-standing frustration in cities such as Shanghai, which have endured strict lockdowns.
The party responded with massive force, arresting an unknown number of people during the protests or in the days that followed. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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