The 34-year-old ophthalmologist had warned friends about the emergence of a new “Sars-like” virus in Wuhan in December 2019 – days before authorities confirmed an outbreak – but was called in by city police and reprimanded for “spreading rumours”.

He was later exonerated following a high-level investigation by the central government and declared a “martyr” that April.

“It’s finally over after all the suffering in the past three years,” one Weibo user wrote on Thursday. “We’ll pick up the pieces and learn to live with the virus. May you rest in peace, Doctor Li!”

Another post read: “The lockdowns were lifted because of people’s outcries. Have you seen us fight? You’ll always be our hero.”

03:27

Public mourning in China after death of coronavirus whistle-blower doctor Li Wenliang

Public mourning in China after death of coronavirus whistle-blower doctor Li Wenliang

A migrant worker surnamed Li in southern Guangzhou was among those protesting a lockdown last month. “I’m so thrilled [now] to see all the roadblocks removed. I’ll not worry about being locked up. I’ll be able to get out to work and raise my children. Freedom has been hard-earned,” he said.

01:31

Two massive Chinese cities ease Covid-19 curbs as protests spread

Two massive Chinese cities ease Covid-19 curbs as protests spread

Announcing the changes on Wednesday, National Health Commission (NHC) deputy director Wang Hesheng asserted that China’s Covid response in the past three years had “ensured public safety”, “shown the superiority of China’s socialist system” and laid the foundation for the current relaxation of controls.

But the U-turn in policy – albeit without the explicit abandoning of zero-Covid – also hammered home the recent public message of “individuals must take the ultimate responsibility of their health”, leaving some people anxious about the road ahead.

Coronavirus in China: new guidelines support shift to living with Covid-19

Zhao Zhihong, 32, a software engineer in Beijing, is worried about hospitals’ capacity to cope. “[I] thank the government for the protection it provided in the past three years, though it seems it was forced to make a U-turn,” he said.

“[But] what if hospitals are overwhelmed with surging infections? It would have dire consequences.”

Zhou Jianqing, 72, also had mixed feelings. “We can’t be locked up. Freedom is good, but I don’t like an abrupt exit from the Covid controls,” said the resident of manufacturing hub Wuxi, in the eastern province of Jiangsu, which was hit by a major outbreak in July.

“Many elderly people with underlying diseases like me now are afraid to go outside, because the virus is most deadly to us,” said Zhou, who has hypertension and diabetes and has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

“I hope mandatory PCR tests could be retained at a frequency of once a week, so that positive cases are screened out early,” he said.

China vows to crack down on local authorities taking ‘excessive’ approach

Under the new plan, PCR tests are only required for people living and working in high-risk areas. Everyone else is encouraged to take RATs, or rapid antigen tests, instead of having to regularly line up at nucleic acid testing sites.

Negative PCR test results and health codes are no longer required for most public venues or on public transport, though these would still need to be shown to enter hospitals, schools and aged care homes.

In Beijing, a negative PCR test result is still required to eat at restaurants or visit gyms, karaoke bars and other indoor entertainment venues.