China: Chongqing authorities say public sector employees testing positive for Covid-19 can go to work as 'normal'

The move is seen as a transformation since the city was witnessing strict COVID-19 restrictions amid infection surge.

China is currently relaxing COVID restrictions for the past several days amid protests.

“Asymptomatic and mildly ill employees of the (Communist Party) and government organizations at all levels, enterprises and institutions can go to work normally after taking protective measures as necessary for their health status and job requirements,” the Chongqing pandemic response office said in a statement published on the municipal government’s website as quoted by CNN.

It added that government agencies would no longer check employees – including police, public school teachers and other workers – for daily negative Covid tests. Instead, authorities will shift the focus of work from preventing infection to health protection and preventing severe disease, it said.

Chongqing is one of China's largest cities with 32 million residents.