After Backlash, Beijing Drops COVID Vaccination Mandate for Crowded Venues

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing's city government has dropped plans to allow only vaccinated people to enter crowded venues such as libraries, cinemas and gyms from Monday, following a strong online backlash to the measure announced earlier this week.

The mandatory requirement would have marked a rare move in China, where the central government insists on voluntary vaccination and has quickly overruled other attempts by front-line officials to issue compulsory vaccination directives.

Late on Thursday, a day after Beijing said it would introduce its vaccination requirement for anyone without a medical...