Health officials are concerned about rural areas, which are likely to see the return of many family members next month, but have had little exposure to the virus since the pandemic erupted

There are fears of severe health impacts and major economic disruption as Beijing and other cities are experiencing huge waves of Covid cases

China is likely to roll out a fourth Covid shot – or second booster – this week for elderly citizens aged 60 and above, plus high-risk groups with serious underlying disease, the Global Times says.

The Chinese capital has been hit hard by a Covid outbreak after its dramatic U-turn on testing and quarantine rules, but the government is urging people not to worry

Firms using a range of strategies to try to keep operations running while Covid spreads at a rapid pace through some Chinese cities

Analysts say China is ill-prepared for a fresh wave of infections, with little exposure to a disease kept largely in check until now

Cities that were already battling their most severe outbreaks saw a sharp decrease in economic activity after rules such as regular testing were scrapped

Beijing said on Saturday it would stop checking truckers and shipping crews that carry goods around the country for Covid-19, such as masks and medicines.

Beijing's loosening of rules that have hobbled the world's second largest economy is being seen as the strongest sign yet that China is preparing its 1.4 billion people to live with the disease

The Apple supplier sees its China factory returning to full output by late December after unrest broke out among workers over Covid curbs

Analysts predict China may now re-open the economy and drop border controls sooner than expected next year, with some seeing it fully open in spring

New measures on the handling of Covid-19 could be announced on Wednesday, including the possibility of people being allowed to quarantine at home, sources have said