Reaction to China loosening COVID restrictions

(Reuters) - China said on Wednesday it would allow COVID patients with mild symptoms to isolate at home as part of a set of new measures that marked a major shift in a tough anti-virus policy that has battered its economy and sparked historic protests.

The relaxation of rules, which also include dropping a requirement for people to show negative tests when they travel between regions, came as top officials toned down warnings about the dangers posed by COVID-19.

Here's what people are saying about the latest moves to ease COVID curbs;

MITUL KOTECHA, HEAD OF EMERGING MARKETS STRATEGY, TD SECURITIES, SINGAPORE

"These are significant steps, and the reality is the current policy had become very difficult to administer given how widespread COVID is in the country. It does shift the balance of growth risk back towards the upside.

"But some of this is already in the price. Now it's going to be wait and see (and) how it's executed. The reality on the ground is still one of continued pressure, even as the outlook is improving somewhat."

ZHIWEI ZHANG, CHIEF ECONOMIST, PINPOINT ASSET MANAGEMENT, HONG KONG

"This change of policy is a big step forward. In particular the home quarantine policy will help to reallocate resources to focusing on treating patients with severe symptoms and patients with need for treatment other than Covid.

"The new policy pushes China's reopening process earlier than market expected. In line with the message from the Politburo meeting today: to boost market confidence. I expect China will fully reopen its border no later than mid 2023.

"The quarantine requirement for international travelers will likely be shortened soon. The key issue in the next few months is to keep the hospitals running and get vaccination rate for senior citizens up quickly.

SAKTIANDI SUPAAT, REGIONAL HEAD OF FX RESEARCH & STRATEGY, MAYBANK, SINGAPORE

"I think markets have, in some ways, priced in that element (of further easing).

"I think markets are probably expecting more about the opening up of the economy ... and are probably still worried about the possibility of policy U-turns if they do not ... see infections actually easing off, and also whether the authorities will be able to control outbreaks."

(Reporting Tom Westbrook and Rae Wee in Singapore, Xie Yu in Hong Kong; Compiled and edited by Shri Navaratnam)