2022年12月4日晚，在杭州一处核酸检测服务点拍摄的100位市民接受常态化核酸检测采样的场景。
这是全员核酸的“最后一夜”，几小时后，杭州深夜发布通告，宣布“不再开展常态化核酸检测”“进入公共场所，不再查验核酸检测阴性证明”。至此，为期221天的全市常态化核酸检测宣告结束。
除杭州外，其他城市也发布了类似通知，以缓解新冠肺炎疫情的控制，使人们的生活恢复正常。
三天后的12月7日，国务院联防联控机制综合组发布《关于进一步优化落实新冠肺炎疫情防控措施的通知》，提出进一步优化疫情防控“新十条”。《通知》提到，不按行政区域开展全员核酸检测；除养老院、中小学等特殊场所外，不要求提供核酸检测阴性证明，不查验健康码。
12月26日晚，国务院联防联控机制发布《关于对新型冠状病毒感染实施“乙类乙管”的总体方案》，宣布自2023年1月8日起，我国对新型冠状病毒感染实施“乙类乙管”。依据传染病防治法，对新冠病毒感染者不再实行隔离措施，不再判定密切接触者，不再划定高低风险区，不再开展全员核酸筛查。
经过三年的大规模检测和严格防控，中国终于准备“放开”了。
（摄于2022年）

Residents take the nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 in Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang province, on the evening of Dec 4, 2022.
A few hours later, an overnight notice from Hangzhou authorities intended to further optimize COVID-19 control measures. The notice said mass nucleic acid testing would cease the next day, while the negative nucleic acid test results will not be required for public transportation and public venues.
Apart from Hangzhou, other cities in China have followed suit and issued similar notices to ease COVID-19 controls and get people’s lives back to normal.
After three days of COVID controls easing in Hangzhou, China released a circular on further optimizing the COVID-19 response on Dec 7, announcing 10 prevention and control measures.
As part of efforts to optimize nucleic acid testing, people will not be subjected to mass testing according to administrative regions, the circular notes. Apart from some special places, people will no longer be required to provide negative nucleic acid test results and undergo health code checks to access public venues or travel to other regions.
While several cities have relaxed their local coronavirus restrictions, this is the first national guideline, indicating that the country is getting ready to live with the virus in the same way as the rest of the world.
The relaxation of COVID policies signals that China is finally ready to open up after three years of mass testing and strict lockdowns.
(2022)