China suspended thousands of social media accounts that criticized the regime for its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak

China suspended or closed accounts in social media of more than 1,000 critics of the regime’s policies in connection with the latest outbreak of COVID-19while the country continues to take steps towards opening up.

The popular platform Sina Weibo It said it addressed 12,854 breaches, including attacks on experts, academics and healthcare workers, and issued temporary or permanent bans for 1,120 accounts.

The governor communist party he had relied heavily on the medical community to justify his harsh confinements, quarantines and massive tests. Almost all of the restrictions were abruptly lifted last month, causing a spike in cases that has strained medical resources. The party does not allow direct criticism and strictly limits the freedom of expression.

The social media platform “will continue to increase the investigation and cleanup of all types of illegal content, and create a harmonious and friendly community environment for the majority of users,” it said in a statement dated Thursday.

Criticism has focused mainly on the heavy hand with which the rules have been applied, including indefinite travel restrictions that have confined the population to their homes for weeks, sometimes without food or adequate medical attention. The requirement that anyone who could test positive or had been in contact with someone infected be admitted for observation in a field hospital, where there was usually talk of overcrowding, poor nutrition and lack of hygiene, was also annoying.

The social and economic cost of China’s strict protocol ultimately led to unusual street protests in Beijing and in other cities, possibly influencing the party’s decision to quickly ease the harsher measures.

As part of the latest changes, China will also stop filing criminal charges against those accused of violating border quarantine rules, according to a notice released Saturday by five government departments.

The people who are detained for this reason will be released and the seized assets will be returned to them.

The adjustments “have been made after exhaustively considering the damage of the behaviors to society and are intended to adapt to the new situations of prevention and control of the epidemic,” the website of the official newspaper stated. china daily in information about notice.

China suffers an increase in infections and hospitalizations in the main cities, and is preparing for the rebound to reach less developed areas coinciding with the wave of travel through the Lunar New Year in the coming days. Although international flights remain few, the authorities expect domestic travel by train and plane to double compared to last year, approaching the data for the 2019 holidays, the last before the pandemic.

The Ministry of Transportation asked travelers on Friday to reduce travel and gatherings, especially if they are going to meet the elderly, pregnant women, young children and people with previous illnesses.

In addition, public transport users were asked to wear a mask and pay special attention to their health and personal hygiene, said the deputy minister. Xu Chengguang to reporters at a press conference.

Despite this, the country is going ahead with its plan to eliminate the mandatory quarantine for those arriving from abroad as of Sunday.

(With information from AP)

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