BEIJING, Jan. 16 (BNA): China’s state planner on Sunday urged local governments to reduce the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday to help pick up consumption, as rising cases of the Omicron variant threaten economic growth. .
“Local governments should avoid simplified and appropriate measures for all… the COVID-19 epidemic and control measures (during the holiday) and reduce the impact on people’s lives,” the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement. Reuters reported.
She said the low-risk places in China meet the reasonable demand for short trips from urban and rural residents, and increase the supply of daily products during the holiday period.
China has reported local cases of the highly contagious Omicron in at least five provinces and municipalities, including the first infection in the capital Beijing on Saturday, just weeks before the Winter Olympics in February.
Local governments are on high alert for potential COVID-19 cases from abroad, with many residents urging to stay for the third year in a row during the busiest travel period of the year.
China’s economy likely grew at its slowest pace in a year and a half in the fourth quarter, weighed down by weak demand due to plummeting real estate, debt constraints and strict coronavirus measures.
On Sunday, the commission said it supports the healthy development of the real estate market and legitimate demand from home buyers, while asking local governments to step up supervision of unfair competition and other monopolistic behavior during the holiday period.
“The measures are intended to further unlock consumer spending potential and push for a stable start to economic growth in the first quarter,” the committee said.
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