- Beijing will test most of its 22 million residents for COVID this week
- Beijing has reported more than 160 infected since April 22
- Beijing is tightening precautionary measures, limiting them to avoid a blockade in Shanghai
- Shanghai’s focus is shifting to vaccination of the elderly
BEIJING / SHANGHAI, April 28 (Reuters) – Beijing closed some public places and stepped up inspections in others on Thursday as more than 22 million residents of the Chinese capital called for more massive COVID-19 testing to prevent blockages. , similar to Shanghai.
Most people in the mall spent a month in stressful home isolation, struggling to meet basic needs. But there was hope on the horizon as the number of new cases dropped even more, and officials said their focus was shifting to increasing vaccinations among the elderly. Read more
However, fears are growing that China will be trapped in a mole game in the coming months, removing blockages in some places while imposing others elsewhere, causing severe economic damage and irritating its population.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
As Beijing introduced three rounds of mass tests this week in much of the city, it closed a number of housing estates, offices and a university. Some schools, entertainment venues and tourist sites were also closed.
Andrew Ward, 36, a Canadian living in one of the narrow alleys of a house in Beijing’s courtyard known as the Hutong, was quarantined at a hotel on Thursday, although his test was negative.
On Wednesday, people in protective suits tested Ward at home after he was identified as close contact with a COVID case.
“I’m a little annoyed because I spent all that money and time storing food to be locked up at home,” said Ward, who works at an international school.
Universal Studios in Beijing said it would require visitors from Friday to show negative test results before they can enter the theme park.
Beijing on Thursday reported 50 new infections on April 27, including some found among nearly 20 million samples obtained in the first round of mass testing. This increased from 34 days earlier.
As of April 22, Beijing has found more than 160 cases, more than half in Chaoyang, its most populous area, known for its nightlife, malls and embassies.
China’s zero-tolerance policy on COVID has sparked rare public outrage during an important year for President Xi Jinping over measures that seem surreal to much of the outside world that has chosen to live with the virus, even when infections spread.
He is expected to seek a third leadership term this fall, and authorities would like to avoid a repeat of the capital’s scenes in Shanghai, where some residents leaned out their windows to beat pots and pans in anger as people in protective suits erected fences around. their homes.
The Chinese yuan fell to an 18-month low against the US dollar on Thursday as the COVID explosion threatened this year’s economic growth target of about 5.5 percent.
However, the stock markets (.CSI300), (.SSEC) were at the bottom of two years in anticipation of more incentives after Prime Minister Li Keqiang promised to stabilize employment and revive disrupted supply chains.
Nomura analysts estimate that 46 cities are currently in full or partial blockade, affecting 343 million people.
Societe Generale estimates that provinces experiencing significant mobility constraints account for 80% of gross domestic product. Read more
Millions of white-and-blue-collar workers, whose livelihoods depend on unhindered mobility between cities, have faced severe travel restrictions in recent weeks, and the movement of goods has also suffered. Read more
But the impact goes beyond China, whose economy is crucial to global supply chains.
Industrial conglomerates GE (GE.N) and 3M (MMM.N) and chipmakers Texas Instruments (TXN.O) and SK Hynix (000660.KS) have warned that COVID’s restrictions in China are hurting their revenues. Read more
Blocking in Beijing, where there is little production and many workers can do their work from home, would not be so economically harmful. However, the capital was in a race against time to avoid the Shanghai accidents.
New infections in Shanghai were below 100 a day in early March, before growing to thousands by the end of the month in China’s largest outbreak, blocking the entire city and changing the lives of its 25 million people.
Most remain locked in their homes, but the city is now preparing measures after the blockade.
“Provided that the risks of an epidemic are also controlled with the elderly as a focal point, we are actively promoting COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Zhao Dandan, deputy director of the municipal health commission.
He said the districts are now arranging public vehicles for vaccination and setting up temporary vaccination stations in nursing homes. Chinese medical experts have justified COVID’s brutal policies, noting the risks of death for thousands of elderly people.
The 47 people reportedly died of COVID in Shanghai on April 27 are on average 84.7 years old, officials said Thursday.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
Report by Ryan Wu, David Stanway, Thomas Swan, Eduardo Baptista, Albi Zhang and Ifan Wang; Author: Marius Zacharias; Edited by Lincoln Feast
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust.
Add Comment