Shanghai’s 25 million people are still locked down as China continues its efforts to stamp out the largest ever Covid outbreak in the country.
China has come under fire for its intense lockdown measures in Shanghai. People are not allowed to leave their residential compounds, even to go buy food. People have to rely on government deliveries or private deliveries, both of which are stretched thin by the enormous demand.
Huge overwhelming pressure on the system has meant that the restrictions have become more distressing than the threat of the virus itself.
The U.S. State Department ordered non-emergency government workers located in Shanghai’s consulate to leave due to the Covid surge and China’s measures to control the outbreak. A spokesperson from the U.S. Beijing embassy said it is best for government employees and their families to be reduced and for operations to be scaled down as the circumstances continue to change.
More than 25,000 new Covid cases were recorded in Shanghai yesterday for the past 24 hours alone, with the extreme majority being asymptomatic cases, and 914 symptomatic cases. On Saturday, nearly 24,000 asymptomatic cases were reported, and just over 1,000 symptomatic cases.
Frustration has grown across Shanghai during the lockdown. Harrowing tales have been shared online of residents being unable to access medical resources on time.
News has spread widely of residents struggling to buy food. Residents in other cities and providences in China are now rushing to stockpile goods in case they end up in a similar situation. “Survival guides” are popping up online and being shared across social media.
Other cities are taking Shanghai’s lead and now taking a zero-risk approach to Covid. In Guangzhou, in-person elementary and middle school classes have been canceled and moved online, after a dozen cases were found.
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