Images of maskless fans enjoying the World Cup in packed Qatar stadiums, or bars and streets abroad, have underscored to many frustrated Chinese the difference between their country's heavy COVID-19 curbs and a world that has moved on from masks and lockdowns.
Social media comments from people in the soccer-mad nation demonstrate a growing sense of isolation among the population, as well as weariness and anger over China's chosen zero-COVID path of lockdowns, frequent tests and closed borders.
"Have they done a COVID test?" wrote another, mocking testing requirements in China that in some places are now daily amid a resurgence of cases. "Why aren't they wearing masks?" An open letter to China's National Health Commission questioning COVID policies asked if China was "on the same planet" as Qatar and went viral on Tuesday before being deleted.
Many calls for reopening have come from the urban middle class, but views on zero-COVID vary considerably, China-watchers told Reuters.
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