There is increasing protest against the long and strict lockdowns in China, here at a demonstration in Hong Kong.
(Photo: Reuters)
Beijing In China, following the anti-government protests last weekend, other major cities are lifting corona rules. In Urumqi – the starting point of the protests – shopping malls, markets and restaurants are expected to reopen on Monday, local authorities said on Sunday.
In Nanning, capital of Guangxi province in the south of the country, the subway can also be used again without presenting a negative test. This provision had previously been lifted in other cities, including Beijing. In the capital, medicines for fever, cough and sore throat can again be bought without registering by name.
Test stations have been closed in many places. However, a negative corona test is still required to enter offices and public buildings. Long queues therefore continued to form at the few remaining test stations.
The number of new infections in China continued to fall on Sunday, but this could also be due to the lower number of tests. Authorities reported 31,824 new cases, down from 32,827 on Saturday.
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The highest number of new infections within a year since the outbreak of the pandemic was just over 40,000 a few days ago. Two other people died in connection with the virus. The number of deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic has risen to 5,235.
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Despite the easing, experts assume that a fundamental departure from China’s zero-Covid policy cannot be expected before March. Rather, the Chinese leadership is currently trying to minimize the economic and social impact of its policies, according to an analysis by the Goldman Sachs bank, for example.
Last weekend there were protests in many cities in China against President Xi Jinping’s strict interpretation of the zero-Covid policy. This is based in particular on comparatively long, strict lockdowns. However, this is slowing down the world’s second largest economy, and the growth expected for this year is likely to be one of the weakest in almost half a century.
People are less and less willing to bow to the measures. The recent wave of civil disobedience has been unprecedented. Her starting point was in Urumqi, capital of the western Chinese region of Xinjiang. One of the longest lockdowns was imposed there: Many of the four million inhabitants were not allowed to leave their homes for up to 100 days.
After ten people died in a fire in a high-rise building, people protested against the strict corona rules. The view spread on social networks that the building was partially locked and that many residents had therefore not made it out in time.
There were no signs of further major protests this weekend. However, security precautions had been increased in Beijing and Shanghai, for example. Police increased patrols in areas where demonstrations had taken place.
More on the subject of protests in China:
In the course of the protests, the Chinese government announced that it would increase the pace of corona vaccinations. In particular, the over 80-year-olds should be immunized. It was advertised in Chinese state media on Sunday.
Many have doubts about the safety and effectiveness of China’s vaccines, according to an editorial in People’s Daily, the newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party. “According to experts, this view is wrong.” The vaccines developed in China are safe.
No foreign vaccines are approved in China. According to the US, China will stick to it. President Xi is unwilling to accept vaccines from abroad, head of national intelligence Avril Haines said on Saturday.
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