China’s zero-Covid policy is causing rare anger in the country. Dozens of people demonstrated in a district of Shenzhen against a new containment announced after the discovery of a few cases of Covid-19, according to images broadcast on social networks verified by AFP.
This megalopolis of more than 18 million inhabitants located in southern China reported 10 new contaminations on Tuesday, prompting the authorities, under pressure a few weeks before the important Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, to react to avoid a surge in cases. AFP-verified videos circulating on China’s Weibo and Instagram sites show dozens of people shouting “lift the lockdown” as rows of police in blue medical gear look on in the Shawei neighborhood near the government headquarters. local.
“High risk” or “moderate risk” areas
The Shawei metro station was closed until further notice from 10 p.m. (2 p.m. French time) on Monday “as part of the prevention and control of the pandemic”, the operator of the metro said in a press release. city metro.
Residents of 14 “high-risk areas” across three districts were forced to confine themselves to their homes from Tuesday, health authorities said, without specifying the number of people affected. In fifteen other neighborhoods considered to be at moderate risk, residents are only allowed to move around inside their residences.
Measures that weigh on morale and the economy
Shenzhen, a sprawling technological center neighboring Hong Kong, had just eased its health restrictions imposed for several weeks, after schools and entertainment venues closed in early September.
Residents can only use public transport, enter a restaurant or access public services, including hospitals, with a negative PCR test that is less than 24 hours old. China is the only major economy to maintain a “zero Covid” strategy, employing targeted and time-limited lockdowns, long quarantines and mass testing. These measures weigh on its economy.
Shortages, deaths and isolated protests
Earlier this year, a two-month lockdown instituted in Shanghai, one of the most populous cities on the planet with more than 25 million people, was marred by food shortages, deaths from lack of access to medical care and scattered demonstrations.
More than 80,000 tourists were also stranded in the seaside resort of Sanya in August due to a wave of Covid. Many people took to the streets, asking to be received by local leaders to air their grievances.