Shanghai – Shanghai, the financial hub of 26 million people, reported nearly 25,000 locally transmitted COVID-19 infections on Sunday. Residents of China's most populous city voiced complaints over food and basic supplies and concern spread that more cities may soon be in the same situation.
The city, a test bed for China's elimination strategy, strongly implements the "zero tolerance" policy that allow only healthcare workers, volunteers, delivery personnel or those with special permission to go out.
The curbs have sharply squeezed supplies of food and other essentials. Many supermarkets have been shut and thousands of couriers locked in. Access to medical care has also been a concern.
Reuters reported of Online videos showing residents struggling with security personnel and hazmat-suited medical staff at some compounds in recent days, with occupants shouting that they need food.
Citizens in several cities expressed anxiety in social media groups that their cities might also go into lockdown, with screenshots shared of maps showing various highways closed across the country.
On Saturday the Ministry of Transport said it met with other government departments to work on standardising highway pandemic checkpoints as restrictions at the local level were causing congestion for critical supplies, the ministry said.
On Saturday, the southern megacity of Guangzhou, home to more than 18 million people, said it would begin testing across its 11 districts after cases were reported on Friday.
On Saturday, the southern megacity of Guangzhou, home to more than 18 million people, said it would begin testing across its 11 districts after cases were reported on Friday.
-Reuters