Dhe 21 million residents of central China’s Chengdu metropolitan area have had just one day to prepare for a full lockdown. From 12 noon German time you have to stay at home indefinitely due to a corona outbreak. The disease control authority announced on Thursday that only one person per household can leave the house once a day to buy groceries in the nearest shop. The infection process is “extremely complex and serious,” the statement said. As recently as Tuesday, the city government had warned the population not to buy hamsters. That is now proving to be short-sighted.
Chengdu reported 157 new infections on Wednesday. The 21 million affected are residents of the city and the surrounding area. Residents who wish to visit a hospital for an emergency need permission from their neighborhood committee. Government employees were called on to be ready for disease control tasks. All residents of the city should be tested for the virus by Sunday. Leaving the city is only permitted if there is a “necessary” reason for travel. Companies were asked to convert their production facilities to so-called closed-loop management. This means that employees are not allowed to leave the factory premises. Food delivery services should be allowed to continue working.
Municipalities struggle to pay for PCR tests
This is Chengdu’s reaction to the bad experience in Shanghai, where supplies to the population collapsed in April. Taxis should no longer be allowed to drive. The use of rental bikes, which are ubiquitous in Chinese cities, is also not allowed.
The Chengdu lockdown is among the most massive intrusions into public life since the end of Shanghai’s two-month lockdown in June. During the holiday season, there were far-reaching restrictions, especially in holiday regions such as the island of Hainan. The new school year started as usual this Thursday throughout China. However, numerous cities postponed the start of school or ordered online classes. This applies, for example, to Tianjin in the northeast of the country and Shenzhen in the south of the country. In Tianjin, several districts are in lockdown. All residents have been urged to stay home until tested for the coronavirus. Restaurants and leisure facilities have been closed in Shenzhen. State-owned companies and authorities have been instructed to discourage their employees from unnecessary travel.)
Numerous cities have also ordered corona tests for all residents these days. Many municipalities are struggling to bear the high costs of the millions of PCR tests and are increasingly being forced to cut back on other expenses. Despite the significant economic impact, there is no end in sight to the Chinese zero-Covid strategy. Rather, the pressure on local governments to bring outbreaks under control is currently increasing because the Communist Party congress, at which Xi Jinping wants to secure a third term, is taking place in six weeks. Ahead of the most important political event in five years, “political stability” has top priority.
Since the zero-Covid strategy is closely linked to the name of Xi Jinping, any questioning of the approach is particularly politically sensitive at the moment. The Chinese leadership does not appear to be actively pursuing an exit strategy at the moment. The daily number of vaccinations that would be necessary for a gradual opening has recently fallen to one of the lowest levels since the vaccination campaign.
