Mainland Covid-19 Caseload Continues To Fall

The mainland's National Health Commission on Tuesday reported 7,451 new local Covid cases, with just under a third being symptomatic. That's down from 8,626 a day earlier. But the figures come as the mainland retires the app it uses to track Covid contacts. 

Case numbers are falling as the mainland's relaxation of its zero-Covid policy means fewer people are being tested. 

According to local government data, Beijing reported just over a thousand cases, while Shanghai's figures were sharply lower at just under 130. Meanwhile Guangzhou saw a daily drop of about 28 percent coming in with a tally of 725 while the megacity of Chongqing reported over 1,500 cases. 

There were no deaths, compared with zero the previous day, keeping fatalities at 5,235.

Meanwhile, the easing of restrictions has released pent-up demand for domestic travel. 

Broadcaster CCTV says flights from Beijing's two main airports should soon return to 70 percent of 2019 levels.

It also comes ahead of Lunar New Year holidays next month, when large numbers of people are expected to travel across the country to visit family for the first time in years. (Additional reporting by Reuters)