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Epidemic control workers who perform nucleic acid tests wear protective clothing to protect against the spread of COVID-19 as they ride shared bicycles in a nearly empty street in the Central Business District on November 23, 2022 in Beijing, China. In an effort to try to bring rising cases under control, the local government last week closed most stores and restaurants for inside dining, switched schools to online studies, and asked people to work from home. Though the government recently revised its COVID strategy, it has said it will continue to stick to its strict zero tolerance policy with mandatory testings, quarantines and lockdowns in many areas in an effort to control the spread of the virus. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

China flip-flops over zero-Covid in the face of rising protests

Easing of restrictions marks a shift in policy, but Beijing’s stance remains hazy and inconsistent

Minxin Pei