Despite mounting public backlash and economic downturn, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that he will not relax the stringent COVID-19 control and prevention measures just yet. During a visit to the southern island of Hainan, Xi said that China must continue with its strict “dynamic COVID clearance” policy in order to minimise the economic impact.
Xi’s comments come on the back of surging COVID-19 infections. Shanghai, the country’s commercial capital, recorded more than 25,000 new cases on Wednesday. In light of the rising numbers, city officials warned that anybody found violating the COVID-19 lockdown rules will be dealt with strictly.
The white bullied a poor old lady, which is happening everyday in #China right now. #CCP #COVID #ZeroCovid #XiJinping pic.twitter.com/ZJWnTnfL1z
— Quantumist-Sam (@martingalequant) April 11, 2022
“Those who violate the provisions of this notice will be dealt with in strict accordance with the law by public security organs ... If it constitutes a crime, they will be investigated according to law,” the Shanghai police department said in a statement. The department also called on the city of 25 million residents to “fight the epidemic with one heart ... and work together for an early victory.”
NEW - Shanghai's inhuman "zero-COVID" lockdown leaves residents desperate for food and medicines.
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) April 9, 2022
Authorities now say they will ease restrictions after another mass test in China's most populous city.pic.twitter.com/3VlV970kUo
The Chinese government has been under increasing pressure to control the rising cases, which have hit their highest mark since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. To this end, at least 38,000 medical workers from across China have been sent to Shanghai to help carry out medical treatment and nucleic acid testing.
Beijing has also drawn flak for resorting to extreme measures in order to control the outbreak. In addition to a strict lockdown that has been extended indefinitely, public transportation networks have been shut down and citizens are facing food and water shortages.
As seen on Weibo: Shanghai residents go to their balconies to sing & protest lack of supplies. A drone appears: “Please comply w covid restrictions. Control your soul’s desire for freedom. Do not open the window or sing.” https://t.co/0ZTc8fznaV pic.twitter.com/pAnEGOlBIh
— Alice Su (@aliceysu) April 6, 2022
The crippling food shortage has sparked protests in some neighbourhoods, with citizens breaking lockdown measures. In a social media post from Shanghai, a crowd of people can be seen yelling, “We’re starving.” Last week, another man was filmed venting his anger on the phone. “What am I supposed to buy? What do I eat? You’re driving us to our deaths,” he shouted. Fearing the same fate, the residents of Guangzhou rushed to hoard food after COVID-19 cases were reported in the megacity.
Also Read: Why is China Holding On to Its Seemingly Ineffective Zero-COVID Strategy?
Controversially, Shanghai’s health officials have also separated babies and young children from their parents if they tested positive for the virus. In a rare expression of public discontent with the measure, disgruntled parents and guardians took to social media to voice their anger against the policy. “Parents need to meet ‘conditions’ to accompany their children? That’s absurd ... it should be their most basic right,” an anonymous user wrote on Weibo. In addition to domestic anger, diplomats from more than 30 countries wrote to China’s Foreign Ministry, urging authorities to cease the extreme measure. Subsequently, Shanghai eased the measure by allowing parents to accompany their children to quarantine facilities.
Lockdown in Shanghai, China 🇨🇳
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) April 9, 2022
No child should ever be treated like this.pic.twitter.com/gPlzIZVrAX
Against the backdrop of such unusually high public discontent, Xi’s latest comments have failed to offer optimism to the masses. That being said, according to a study carried out by Peking University, China could experience a “colossal outbreak” if it took inspiration from Western governments and adopted their hybrid strategies for tackling the virus. The study argued that such a relaxation could result in more than 630,000 infections and 22,000 severe cases per day. Researchers posit that daily deaths could also possibly spike up to the hundreds or even the thousands.