China: 9 million people enter lockdown

Chinese authorities announced today the imposition of a lockdown in Shenyang (northeast), an industrial city of 9 million people, as China faces an increase in cases of covid-19 due to the variant strain Omicron of coronavirus, while residents have begun to express their indignation at the measures.

Shenyang, home to several factories, including one from German carmaker BMW, is the capital of Liaoning Province, which borders Jilin, the epicenter of the current wave of the epidemic.

The Chinese Ministry of Health today announced 4,770 new cases of covid-19 nationwide.

In Shanghai, where hundreds of new cases are reported every day, authorities have chosen to impose targeted lockdowns on apartment buildings rather than a general curfew.

A lockdown has been imposed in Jilin County since last week, with residents of many communities unable to leave and many cities barring people from leaving their homes.

The technology metropolis of Shenzhen, with a population of 17.5 million, announced on Monday the gradual lifting of the strict lockdown, after it had already relaxed the restrictions to avoid serious effects on the operation of the factories and the port.

Thanks to the lockdowns, the imposition of quarantine on those arriving in the country and the monitoring of citizens’ movements, China had almost eliminated covid-19.

But the zero-tolerance strategy that follows has an impact on the Asian giant’s economy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping last week called for a “minimization” of the effects of the pandemic on the economy, although he ruled out a possible easing of the authorities’ strategy.

Reactions

But many Chinese are already reacting to the strict measures imposed on them, as are ongoing diagnostic tests.

In Shenyang, many residents started knocking on the windows of clothing stores, shouting indignantly after the announcement of another round of testing for covid-19.

Although the local government quickly urged citizens not to “spread rumors” about the incident, the reaction of internet users was immediate. “Deny quarantine,” one wrote. “Many people woke up and realized the truth,” said another.

“The epidemic is over,” commented a WeChat user named “Jasmine Tea.” “Vaccine companies want to vaccinate us forever.”

In the city of Yangzhou, in Hebei Province, where people work in Beijing live, residents find it difficult to return home amid severe lockdowns.

Photographs posted online, many of which have already been deleted, show residents queuing in the snow waiting to be tested in order to leave Beijing. Hundreds of comments were left by internet users under the photos.

In addition, due to travel restrictions, residents and employees are facing financial difficulties.

A courier named Mao, who lives in Changchun City in Jilin Province, said that 90% of the neighborhoods are in lockdown and therefore unable to work.

Residents have also complained about the lack of clarity regarding the rules but also about the resident committees that are responsible for enforcing them.

In Beijing, a family complained that the residents’ committee was preparing to install a surveillance device on the door of its apartment to make sure it would comply with the order to stay home for two weeks.

The order was given after a family member went to the supermarket two days before a positive covid-19 test.

After all, many internet users discuss how lockdowns lead to tragedies.

A post on Weibo last week reported that a patient undergoing chemotherapy at Shanghai Cancer Hospital had died while locked in her home next to the hospital.

In posts that have now been deleted, other Chinese people tell their own similar stories about the death of their loved ones due to the restrictions imposed due to covid-19.

“My dad died of a stroke at the end of last year,” said one. “There was some hope for treatment. Unfortunately we had to wait for the results of the diagnostic test and missed the time to get the best treatment.”

SOURCE: AMPE