China’s abrupt abandonment of its zero-Covid strategy without warning early this month has led to an unprecedented wave of infections ripping through the world's top energy consumer and causing serious workforce shortages at offshore fabrication yards.

Under its relaxed policies, people who test positive for the coronavirus are allowed to recuperate at home instead of being forced into centralised quarantine.

A “health code” on a smartphone app is no longer required to enter public places and authorities will stop tracking close contacts and designating high-risk and low-risk areas.