With the quarantine imposed against covid-19 after 40 days of restrictions, the anxiety of the Shanghai population is increasing. In this context, the city has witnessed extraordinary events such as clashes in the middle of the street or the escape of workers from a factory.
China’s most populous city locked up 25 million people in early April in hopes of containing the worst coronavirus outbreak since the first wave in early 2020.
Officially, Shanghai has recorded more than 500 deaths in a matter of weeks, a disaster for China, with the total toll reported by authorities nearly 5,000 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.
Despite a sharp drop in the number of daily cases, authorities are increasing their arsenal of anti-epidemic measures in the name of the “covid zero” strategy that the Chinese government advocates as proof of its political superiority over the West.
In response, the public no longer hide their disappointment and do not hesitate to confront the security forces in a country where protests are not tolerated.
On Saturday night, residents dissatisfied with the food supply clashed with officers in full protective suits, according to videos posted on social media.
“Agitators” urged neighbors to go beyond the confines of their isolated dwellings and throw objects out of their windows, local officials said.
Footage taken in the Zhuanqiao district, verified by AFP, shows residents rejecting the forces of order and shouting “no to police violence”.
Exit
These events took place in Quanta, a factory owned by a third-party company working for Apple last week, when hundreds of workers fled to escape the barricades. According to the Bloomberg news agency, workers feared tightening measures against covid-19.
Since the start of the quarantine in Shanghai, employees have been sleeping in spartan conditions at work, as they have not been able to return home.
The governorship assures the Chinese economic capital to win the war against covid. The number of daily cases, which exceeded 25 thousand at the end of April, fell below 4 thousand in the last 24 hours.
Local authorities claim that in recent weeks millions of people have managed to regain some of their freedom. Some may have already left their flats, but not the building.
However, several housing developments have reinstated restrictions, even in low-risk areas, residents reported to AFP. It is read that it is forbidden to leave the house for a few days, except for those who are open to those who will take the coronavirus detection test. Also, it is no longer possible to order food.
Families are afraid of being taken to quarantine centers even if their tests are negative because there is one positive in the neighborhood.
“We were told we had to leave our keys so they could come and disinfect the flat,” a British woman living in Shanghai told AFP.
source: Noticias
