Beijing no longer requires people to show a negative Covid test to enter supermarkets and offices.
The headline in the China Daily newspaper said that Beijing was ready for life again.
After a string of demonstrations marked the biggest show of public discontent in mainland China since 2012 the next step is likely to be loosened.
As he swiped his travel card to get into the subway, Hu said, "This might be the first step towards reopening from this Pandemic."
China is closer to what other countries have said for more than a year as they dropped restrictions and decided to live with Covid-19.
According to Chinese state television, the director of the Beijing Institute of Respiratory Diseases said that the latest Omicron variant had caused fewer cases of severe illness than the previous one.
Two sources with knowledge of the matter say that China may announce 10 new easing measures as early as Wednesday.
The reopening of the world's second-biggest economy could boost global growth.
Commuter traffic in major cities, such as Beijing and Chongqing, has remained at a fraction of previous levels despite assurances from authorities.
There is concern about the strain the loosened could put on China's health system, as well as the fact that some people remain wary of catching the virus, especially elderly people.
China may be demoted to Category B from Category A of infectious disease in January.
According to a commentary published late on Monday, the most difficult period has passed due to the weakened pathogenicity of the virus.
Analysts think that China may open the economy sooner than expected next year, with some expecting it to be fully open in the spring.
Even if borders reopen tomorrow, more than half of Chinese will put off travel for several months to a year.
In a survey of 4,000 consumers in China, the top concern was fear of infections.
There were 5,235 Covid-related cases in China. If the exit is too hasty, the toll could go up.
With the news agency.
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