Authorities say Beijing can go mask-free after 13 days of no COVID-19 cases

Some people still wear the mask to feel safe

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Health authorities in China's capital Beijing are further relaxing rules and have removed the requirement for people to wear masks outdoors after 13 consecutive days without new cases. A large number of people still continue to wear masks despite the relaxed guidelines. 

Beijing's municipal Centres for Disease Control had relied on the guidelines in April, but they were soon reversed in June after new cases broke out in one of the city’s wholesale markets. While some people still wear the mask to feel safe, some others said they felt social pressure to wear them. 

"I think I can take off my mask anytime, but I'll need to see if others accept it. Because I'm afraid that people would be scared if they see me not wearing a mask," one 24-year old Beijing woman was quoted as saying in a Reuters report. According to health experts, strict enforcement of rules like wearing masks and home quarantine and participating in mass testing has contributed greatly to the country’s success in controlling the disease. 

The mainland has not reported any new cases of the coronavirus for five days. China has reported a total of 84,917 positive cases since the outbreak of the pandemic. 

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