Zero-Covid China drafts in the military as Shanghai ordered to test 25 million residents for Covid
The city, which is grappling with a record daily number of Covid cases, has become the biggest – and potentially the most costly – example of China’s resoluteness in sticking to its elimination strategy. his strictness.
The plan, which will see every resident take a nucleic acid test starting Monday morning, comes as Shanghai reported the city recorded more than 9,000 cases on Sunday.
Although the number of cases is small by international standards, the rapid outbreak has placed Shanghai on the front lines of China’s uncompromising battle with the virus, as the government doubled down on testing, mandatory closures and controversial isolation policies for young children. separated from their parents if they test positive.
The enforcement of these measures, while trying to meet the needs of a limited population, has led officials to adopt a wartime stance. In recent days, more than 30,000 medical staff have been dispatched to the city, according to state media. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) also deployed more than 2,000 military medical personnel to Shanghai on Sunday, according to the official PLA Daily.
Political pressure is mounting on Shanghai authorities to both quell the outbreak and address growing concerns from residents struggling with the cost and inconvenience of the measures. Strict.
But if residents hope these measures will ease soon, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan’s arrival in the city over the weekend leaves little doubt about Beijing’s position.
Sun, who has led Covid-19 control efforts throughout the pandemic, on Sunday stressed that Shanghai must adhere to China’s zero-Covid policy without any “hesitancy or wavering”. , citing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s directive to eliminate the virus and win the “tough battle” against the pandemic.
Young children separated from their parents
In recent days, residents have continued to take to social media to describe challenges in accessing goods, including waking up early in the morning to try to place orders for limited supplies.
“We have nothing now – oil, rice, all sorts. It’s so hard. I set the alarm at 6am but still no rice,” one user wrote below a social media post. describe their situation. Shanghai district, where authorities later said they would deliver supplies.
Fresh outrage over the quarantine measures sparked over the weekend after photos emerged purporting to show a crowded, understaffed Shanghai hospital ward for children with Covid-19. -19 has been separated from her family due to quarantine measures.
The photos, which were later clarified in a statement by the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, were not of the Covid-19 pediatric isolation ward, but were taken while the hospital was moving its regular pediatric ward to outpatient and emergency buildings, where “more pediatric patients. paramedics were deployed.”
But the policy itself, requiring all patients who test positive to be isolated in facilities, including young children and infants, worries parents to a considerable extent. .
A mother surnamed Zhu told CNN her 2-year-old daughter tested positive on March 26, and was separated from her and taken to the clinic on March 29, after which she received little information about her daughter other than updates that she was doing well. Health.
“This disease does not require advanced medical skills, all she needs is care and companionship,” Zhu wrote on Weibo.
Only after several attempts was Zhu, who was also confirmed to have Covid-19, was allowed to enter the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and stay with his daughter on Monday, Zhu told CNN.
Addressing concerns during Monday’s press conference, Shanghai officials said that if the parents of infected children were also positive, they could stay together and receive medical monitoring and treatment, but children under seven must still be sent to the Shanghai Public Health Clinic. Children’s treatment center.
End in sight?
Now, with mass citywide testing rolling in and most of the city still under lockdown, the question is when will Shanghai be able to relax restrictions.
The city’s economy has been hit by the restrictions, as job backlogs and travel delays grow. The city is China’s financial capital, as well as home to the world’s busiest container port – and the government will be wary of the possible long-term effects of an extended shutdown.
The challenges make some residents think back to the situation two years ago in Wuhan, when China fought its first Covid-19 outbreak. The city has been under various forms of lockdown for a period of months, and medical workers from all over the country have come to help.
“It’s been two years since Wuhan) and things have changed, but nothing seems to have changed,” one social media user wrote in a popular comment on Weibo, pointing to the arrival of doctor from Wuhan to Shanghai. “I cried when I saw Wuhan’s support.”
CNN’s Beijing office contributed to this report.
