Unable to control the progress of Covid-19 cases, Beijing, China on Wednesday (4) announced new restrictions on the movement of citizens, including isolated housing units and closed subways.
Although only 51 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, the Chinese capital fears the same explosion of infected people as Shanghai.About 5,000 people were confirmed to have contracted the disease in just one day.
There, part of the population has not been able to go outside for more than a month, and in some areas, residents have reported that local authorities are carrying out mandatory home inspections to check for infected people.
A man hands a shopping bag to a resident of an isolated and belted apartment complex in Beijing. Photograph: Carlos Garcia Rollins/Reuters
Among the new restrictions, the Chinese capital, with a population of 21 million, has isolated entire apartment complexes and closed 45 subway stations, representing 15% of the local network, as well as fitness centers and entertainment venues. Restaurants remain closed for on-site consumption.
This is the most serious spread of Covid-19 in China since the start of the epidemic in 2020.. At the time, the Chinese government adopted a zero-tolerance policy against the coronavirus, which included measures such as quarantining entire cities and mandatory testing of all residents when only a few cases were discovered.
One of the 45 subway stations that were closed in Beijing on Wednesday (4). Photograph: Carlos Garcia Rollins/Reuters
Fears of an outbreak of cases in Beijing
In Beijing, many tourist spots have also adopted restrictions during the usually crowded May 1 holiday.
Vendor passes the bag of food in a side position that has been set up this Wednesday (4) to isolate residents after positive cases at the site. Photograph: Carlos Garcia Rollins/Reuters
Residents began stocking up on food and necessities in fear of a closure that might suddenly be announced. The China World Trade Center, which houses offices and commercial areas, will remain closed until Sunday.
In addition to Beijing, the central city of Zhengzhou has also increased its controls to fight Covid, as residents of the main part of the city have been forced to stay in their apartment complexes.
Shanghai, where weeks of confinement have drawn criticism of the public administration and the authorities’ overzealous enthusiasm, is facing problems in providing supplies to the confined population and in caring for patients with problems unrelated to Covid-19.
Hundreds have died in the city of 25 million, mostly unvaccinated elderly people.
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