Asia

China shortens quarantines as it eases some of its COVID rules China on Friday eased some of its strict COVID rules, including shortening quarantines by two days for close contacts of infected people and for inbound travellers, and removing a penalty for airlines for bringing in too many cases. Ryan Woo,Tony Munroe Reuters

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Virus lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou BEIJING (AP) — A surge in COVID-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, adding to financial pressure that has disrupted global supply chains and sharply slowed growth in the world’s second-largest economy. AP NEWS

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The country’s borders remain largely closed and internal travel and trade is fraught with ever-changing quarantine regulations.

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What exit? China doubles down on zero-Covid pledge despite public frustration China has reiterated its unswerving commitment to its longstanding zero-Covid policy, despite mounting public frustration the stringent measures are costing the very lives they're intended to protect. By Nectar Gan, CNN CNN

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The unrelenting campaign has kept infections and deaths low at great economic and social cost, as new fast-spreading variants make containing the virus near impossible....