New wave of contagion threatens Beijing's 'zero-covid' policy
Cases in China have reached record levels since the end of the Wuhan lockdown two years ago. Thousands of infections across the country. Many cities are in lockdown, including the megacity of Shenzhen. The situation in Hong Kong is out of control.
Rome (AsiaNews) - Covid-19 is spreading rapidly throughout China and health authorities have reported more than 3,000 infections over the weekend, including asymptomatic cases. The number of infections has reached an all-time high since Wuhan (Hubei), where the pandemic emerged two years ago, went into lockdown.
In the south of the country, the mega-city of Shenzhen, close to Hong Kong, announced a shutdown after registering 66 new infections on 12 March. The city's public transport system is suspended, and residents are not allowed to leave the city without permission. Local authorities announced that all residents will have to take three diagnostic tests each in the coming days.
Lockdowns have also been introduced in Shanghai, where 41 cases of infection were reported yesterday and several residential areas are now sealed off. Many universities have sealed off their campuses, with students and teachers having to remain inside. Primary and high schools are instead taking online courses. All local long-distance bus stations are closed and city authorities have begun massive population testing.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic two years ago, Shanghai has adopted a more flexible approach that differs from the central government's rigid zero-COVID policy, with the aim of minimising the impact on the economy. The local government emphasised its 'precise prevention and control' approach, which avoided massive isolation and quarantine, and balanced prevention of the epidemic with protection of the economy.
In the northern province of Jilin, more than 2,000 infections were recorded on 12 March. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, local authorities plan to build three makeshift hospitals with 10,000 beds. Many cases occurred at the Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University. The university is accused of concealing the epidemic and mismanaging the situation: students were quarantined in the library and classrooms, and slept on desks. They complained of a lack of food and basic necessities. After being reported by state-run CCTV, 6,000 students from the university were transported to government-designated quarantine facilities.
Due to the scant success of prevention efforts, authorities in Guangdong and Jilin dismissed several officials. The highly contagious Omicron variant poses a major challenge to the zero-Covid policy. Over the past two years, Chinese authorities have adopted lockdown, quarantine and massive swab tests to combat the virus, a strategy that Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan reiterated will be maintained in the face of soaring infections.
Considering the enormous cost of lockdowns and the mild symptoms of Omicron, some Chinese medical specialists suggest that coexistence may be an acceptable option. Debunking Sun, Zeng Guang, an official with the National Health Commission, said the zero-Covid policy would not remain unchanged. Authorities have approved five antigen test kits to be used independently, a move that does not strictly adhere to the zero-Covid policy.
Meanwhile, the infections continue in Hong Kong: the city has the highest mortality rate in the developed world. The city government has followed all of Beijing's recommendations, introducing the zero-covid approach, but has so far failed to stop the contagions. Online footage shows that the city morgues are overflowing and bodies are piled up in the wards. The South China Morning Post claims that the Hong Kong government is 'unprepared and disorganised' and that failures to manage the health emergency further undermine its credibility.
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