As the Chinese mainland recorded over 1800 locally transmitted Covid-19 cases, the country made changes to its rules, ordering that patients with mild symptoms be sent to centralized quarantine facilities instead of being hospitalized. It also lowered the bar for patients to be discharged from hospital. The move is aimed at relieving pressure on the medical system as the country faces the most severe outbreaks in two years. The National Health Commission said those showing mild symptoms will be admitted to hospital only when their condition worsens. The mainland has seen over 15,000 domestically transmitted positive cases in half a month. The outbreaks have affected 28 provincial-level localities, including Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, Shanghai and Jilin Province.
