China will deal the final blow to its COVID-19 restrictions early next year, both for the country’s citizens and those travel to the mainland.

What happened: China will reopen borders and lift quarantines after downgrading its treatment for COVID on January 8.

The decision is the mainland’s final step in shedding three years of zero-COVID and transitioning to living with the virus.

Since 2020, China has treated COVID as a category A infectious disease, like cholera and bubonic plague.

In order to curb Category A contagious diseases, authorities under Chinese law are enacting the strictest regulations, such as quarantine and isolation of those infected and their close associates, as well as city-wide lockdowns.

Provincial health authorities and hospitals in China said The National Health Commission contacted her on Sunday, asking her to prepare for relegation to Category B management, which begins Jan. 8, according to the South China Morning Post.

This category means that COVID only requires “necessary treatments and measures to contain the spread”.

Why it matters: The abrupt and rapid lifting of COVID-related restrictions in mainland China has unveiled a new set of economic difficulties.

The easing of restrictions has led to an increase in uncontrollable COVID cases in China, leading to staff shortages in all industries and medicines.

Also read: COVID-19 surge in China leads to overcrowded hospitals and empty streets

Stocks to watch: The reopening of China’s economy will impact stocks focused on specific companies that operate there, as well as companies that would suffer indirect effects from instability in the world’s second largest economy after it lifted its COVID restrictions .

shares of Estee Lauder Companies Inc el, Starbucks Corporation SBUX and Wynn Resorts, Limited WYNN could relocate as these companies have significant presences in China.

Chinese ETFs incl Global X MSCI China Real…