Today saw their hopes dashed as hundreds of thousands of Shanghai residents were forced into re-isolation shortly after their freedom of movement was restored.
At the end of March, after it became the epicenter of the worst covid-19 outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic, authorities limited this metropolis of 25 million inhabitants by region.
In recent weeks, the government has loosened restrictions, and those living in low-risk areas were able to leave the country again on Wednesday. While many celebrated this new freedom with parties and shopping, others had to stay home today due to new infections.
Liu, a 29-year-old woman from the Minhang district, told AFP that her housing project was once again locked down after a suspected case of covid-19 was reported in one of the buildings.
He said in a “chat” group he complained about the “endless” incarceration of residents.
– Under the bridge – In the central Jing’an district, the authorities locked the door of another housing project with chains. According to an AFP journalist present at the scene, residents clashed with agents.
More than 500,000 people are still subject to restrictions, the governor’s office said. With any new infections or suspected cases, authorities return to isolating people.
China is the only major world economy to insist on the “covid zero” strategy. In this strategy, positive cases are isolated. And sometimes, all residents of a building or residential development have to comply with quarantine.
In this context, some people are willing to do anything to break the rules.
Police said on Thursday that a businessman hid him under a road bridge to avoid being found by health workers, after one of his employees learned of the suspected case.
The boss, who was eventually detained, said he was “concerned that the company’s business would be affected” by the employee’s absence, according to the statement.
All this contrasts with the news of the state press, which almost exclusively broadcasts videos of parties, illuminated buildings, and reversal of traffic in the center of the city.
Nothing could be further from the truth for Eva, 26, who will have to serve a new two-month prison sentence. This morning, she received an official notification of suspicious cases in her apartment.
“At first, this opening didn’t seem real to me. After all we’ve been through in the last two months, I had my doubts,” he said.
source: Noticias
