OREANDA-NEWS  China has not asked Russia for help in the fight against COVID-19, but Rospotrebnadzor specialists are in constant contact with colleagues from China, the press service of the department told.

"There have been no appeals from the Chinese side to the Russian Federation with a request to assist in the fight against COVID-19. Despite this, Rospotrebnadzor specialists are in constant contact with their Chinese colleagues. There is a regular exchange of information on circulating strains," the report says.

The level of interaction and well-established data exchange make it possible not to impose restrictions on citizens leaving China, the ministry noted. The situation remains under strict control of Rospotrebnadzor, the press service stressed. The Chinese authorities in December last year began to actively weaken the anti-bullying policy, which remained the toughest in the world for almost three years, negatively affecting the economy, global production and logistics chains, tourism and interstate exchanges. A significant adjustment of measures occurred after a wave of protests in the country's megacities demanding that lockdowns be removed, regular large-scale PCR testing be stopped, and a policy of mitigation of anti-epidemic measures be initiated. Since January 8, as part of a departure from the "zero tolerance" policy for coronavirus, China has completely abolished quarantine and PCR testing for visitors from abroad.

At the same time, there is an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in the country, the status of which since January 8, the Chinese authorities have transferred from class "A", which includes particularly dangerous diseases, to a less dangerous category.