As many Chinese embraced their newly acquired liberties on Thursday, following the abolition of key parts of the country's strict zero-COVID regime, some cities warned residents to remain vigilant against a virus that has been largely under control until now.

Three years into the pandemic, many in China yearned for Beijing to align its stringent virus prevention measures with those of the rest of the world, which has largely opened up to coexist with the disease.

These frustrations culminated in widespread protests last month, the largest display of public discontent since 2012 when President Xi Jinping assumed power.

Without stating that it was in response to the protests, some cities and regions have begun easing COVID controls, paving the way for a nationwide easing of the rules announced by the National Health Commission on Wednesday.

The NHC announced that infected individuals with mild symptoms can now quarantine at home, and it has eliminated the need for testing and health status checks on mobile apps for a variety of activities, such as travel.

According to state press, domestic ticket sales for tourist and leisure destinations have skyrocketed, while some individuals have revealed on social media that they have tested positive for the virus - something that previously carried a great deal of stigma in China.

Others have voiced caution.

"I am aware that COVID is not as 'horrifying' as it once was, but it is still contagious and painful," stated one Weibo user. The fear instilled in our hearts cannot be easily dispelled.

Another Weibo user commented, "Too many positives!"

China reported 21,439 new local COVID-19 infections on December 7, slightly fewer than the previous day and fewer than the November 27 peak of 40,055 cases. Requirements for testing have been eliminated by authorities across the nation, resulting in a recent downward trend in cases.

Multiple multimillion-dollar projects to construct testing laboratories across China, from Shandong province in the east to Sichuan province in the southwest, have been canceled, according to The Paper, a Shanghai-based newspaper backed by the government.

Ill-Prepared

There has been no mention of China's "zero-COVID" policy in recent announcements, raising suspicions that the term is becoming obsolete as the government gradually transitions the nation into a state of coexistence with the virus.

In its most recent guidance posted on its website, the NHC changed the official Chinese name of the virus from novel coronavirus pneumonia to simply novel coronavirus.

However, while adopting the new, less stringent regulations, some municipalities urged residents to remain vigilant.

Zhengzhou, the central Chinese city that is home to the world's largest iPhone factory, said in a message to residents, "The general public should maintain a good awareness of personal protection and be the first responsible party for their health."

It encouraged residents to wear masks, maintain social distancing, seek medical attention for fever and other COVID symptoms, and get vaccinated, especially the elderly.

Some analysts and medical experts assert that China is ill-prepared for a significant increase in infectious diseases, due in part to low vaccination rates among the elderly and the country's fragile healthcare system.

"It (China) may have to pay for its delay in adopting a 'living with COVID' strategy," Nomura analysts wrote in a Thursday note.

Nomura stated that the infection rate in China is only about 0.13 percent, which is "far below the level required for herd immunity."

Feng Zijian, a former official at China's Center for Disease Control, told the China Youth Daily that up to 60 percent of China's population could be infected before the epidemic stabilizes.

"Eventually, between 80 and 90 percent of people will be infected," he said.

China's current COVID death toll of 5,235 is a negligible fraction of its population of 1,4 billion and is extremely low by global standards. Some experts have warned that the death toll could exceed 1.5 million if the withdrawal is rushed.

However, despite the dangers, many acknowledge that life must continue.

Yan, a 22-year-old unemployed Beijing resident, said he hoped a further opening up of China's economy would help him find work. "It's impossible to kill this virus completely; perhaps we should just live with it and hope it evolves into flu," he said.