China ended its strict “zero-Covid” policy by ending the requirement for incoming travelers to quarantine.
This allowed for a sharp increase in travel within China as well as in and out of the country over the Lunar New Year holiday.
For some countries that rely on tourism, the entry of many Chinese visitors will help their economies, while others have imposed restrictions on travelers from China due to Covid-19 concerns.
Some experts believe that Beijing’s way of defining a Covid-19 death could lead to the country’s outbreak appearing less serious than it really is.
The National Health Commission only classified deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure as deaths caused by Covid-19.
China has faced criticism for not being transparent about the severity of its Covid-19 surge, with some concerns about undercounting of deaths.
China has pushed back against these claims and suggested that its rate of severe illness and death compares favorably with other nations.
