China is one of the last countries to apply a so-called “zero Covid” strategy in the face of the epidemic.
Several million people are confined on Wednesday in China, because of an epidemic rebound which raises fears of the return of restrictions, in particular in Shanghai, a month after the lifting of a long and grueling confinement.
Shanghai closed all of its karaoke bars on Wednesday, in connection with some cases of Covid-19, authorities said. Five weeks after the lifting of a difficult confinement, some of the inhabitants fear a return to harsher restrictions.
A concern amplified by the reception by some households of food rations, according to messages widely shared on social networks. “The Putuo district (in central Shanghai, editor’s note) is sending vegetables again,” wrote a resident on WeChat messaging.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health reported nearly 300 new cases nationwide.
The main affected area is the eastern province of Anhui, where 1.7 million people in two rural townships are currently confined. More than a thousand cases have been identified there since last week, with contaminations which are now spreading to the neighboring province of Jiangsu (east), bordering Shanghai and an important manufacturing region.
Slow business
China is one of the last countries to apply a so-called “zero Covid” strategy in the face of the epidemic. This health policy consists of massive screenings, mandatory quarantines in the event of a positive PCR test and targeted confinements.
Deemed necessary in terms of health by the authorities, these measures penalize activity with many companies closed or operating at idle.
According to estimates by Nomura Bank, at least 114 million Chinese are subject to various travel restrictions, including confinements. They were 66 million a week ago.
The large city of Xi’an (north) is also reimposing “control measures”, after an outbreak of Omicron linked to the BA.5.2 subline, according to local health authorities. This strain is reputed to be more contagious but less virulent.
Restaurants, bars, places of worship and even karaoke are closed preventively for a week in the metropolis of 13 million inhabitants.
A former imperial capital, Xi’an is known worldwide for its buried terracotta army of China’s first emperor.
The BA.5.2 subvariant was also detected in Beijing, where the authorities, however, on Wednesday deemed the epidemic “under control”.
The capital is nevertheless strengthening its health measures: from July 11, libraries, museums and cinemas will only be accessible to vaccinated people.
