Volunteers and government officials in Shanghai have erected metal barriers in many neighborhoods to block small streets and entrances to housing estates as China maintains its strict approach to “zero COVID” in its largest city, despite growing complaints from residents.
In the financial district of the city of Pudong, barriers – thin metal sheets or mesh fences – were placed in several neighborhoods according to a directive from the local government, according to Caixin, a Chinese business media. The buildings in which cases have been found have sealed their main entrances, with a small opening through which pandemic prevention workers can pass.
Read more: As Shanghai closes, China seeks to help key sectors resume operations
Authorities in Beijing have announced a massive test beginning Monday in the Chaoyang district, home to more than 3 million people in the Chinese capital.
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The announcement sparked a panicked purchase on Sunday night, with vegetables, eggs, soy sauce and other products being wiped off food shelves.
A new outbreak has infected at least 41 people, including 26 in Chaoyang District, state television CGTN reported.
2:00 China’s Zero COVID policy raises tensions as Shanghai remains closed China’s Zero COVID policy raises tensions as Shanghai remains locked up – April 17, 2022
China reported 21,796 new COVID-19 infections from the community on Sunday, most of them asymptomatic in Shanghai. Across the country, many cities and provinces have imposed a version of the blockade in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
The latest outbreak, caused by the highly contagious version of omicron, has spread across the country, but was particularly large in Shanghai. The city, a financial center with 25 million inhabitants, has counted hundreds of thousands of cases, but less than 100 deaths since the outbreak nearly two months ago.
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Read more: Shanghai allows 4 million more to leave their homes as COVID-19 control makes it easier
An Associated Press study on the number of deaths found that despite a history of narrow criteria for linking deaths to certain diseases, especially COVID-19, authorities have changed the way they account for positive cases, leading to the possibility of , which reach the final number of deaths. . The result is almost certainly an underestimation of the true number of deaths.
On social media, people posted videos of the new barriers being erected on Saturday, with some expressing anger at the measures. The barriers are designed to leave major roads unblocked, Caixin said.
In a video confirmed by the AP, residents leaving a building in Shanghai’s Xuhui district broke the barricade with a mesh fence at their front entrance and went looking for the security guards they thought were responsible for installing it.
2:08 COVID-19: Blockades slowly lifted in Shanghai, China amid growing anger among residents COVID-19: Blockades slowly lifted in Shanghai, China amid growing anger among residents – April 12, 2022
Shanghai uses a multi-level system in which neighborhoods are divided into three categories based on transmission risk. Those in the first category face the strictest control of COVID-19 and were the main target of the new reinforced measures. In the third category, some buildings allow people to leave their homes and visit public places.
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In Shanghai, authorities announced 39 new deaths from COVID-19, raising the official death toll to 4,725 by the end of Saturday, the National Health Commission said Sunday.
The locking of the city attracted the world’s attention because of its strict approach and sometimes dangerous consequences. Many residents of the city have had difficulty obtaining groceries by resorting to barter and wholesale purchases. Others have failed to receive adequate medical care in a timely manner due to strict traffic control.
Read more: US orders all non-urgent consular officers to leave Shanghai due to COVID-19
On Friday, Chinese Internet users shared a six-minute video called “Voices of April”, which documents some of the most challenging public moments the city has experienced during the nearly month-long blockade. One part includes audio recordings of residents of a community in Shanghai who protested on April 8, shouting, “Send us food! Send us food!” Send us food! Send us food! ” in unison.
The video covered WeChat timelines before being abruptly removed by censors on Saturday.
Chinese authorities continue to argue that the “zero COVID” strategy is the best way forward, given the low levels of vaccination in people over the age of 60, and that omicron would lead to many deaths and serious illnesses if the country put an end to his strict approach.
Associated Press journalist Penny Wang of Bangkok contributed to the report.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
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