The city of Shanghai is all set to undergo a lockdown, starting first with a district that involves around 2.7 million people from Saturday in order to conduct large scale Covid-19 testing. This news has been reiterated by concerned city authorities after Chinese metropolis has struggled to wholly recover from the jolt of the deadly virus.
Until last week, the Chinese city had eased several restrictions after confining almost around 25 million people back into their homes since March 2022, after China recovered partially from the worst Covid outbreak in the last two years.
However, even though situations coincided, the lockdown was never wholly lifted, as the danger still lurked over the county; thousands in Shanghai were still restricted from their homes.
From Saturday, the South-Western district of Minhang, which is renowned for being homes to approxiately 2.7 million people, is to be termed under a “closed management”. All the residents here will be tested as reiterated by the local district authorities through a social media post recently.
The authorities wrote, “The closure is soon going to be lifted once all the samples have been successfully accumulated.” It’s important to note that the authorities did not specify the date and time; the statement also did put light on what measures will the authorities impose on anyone being found positive in that district.
Under the stringent conditions and functioning of the zero-covid approach held by China, all the positive cases are immediately isolated and barged from closed contacts with anyone – this often includes closing down the entire community/building of the positive patient, meaning complete quarantine.
As per local data, the city of Shanghai has reported nine new local infections until Thursday, but zero yet in Minhang. In such a situation, the announcement made by the concerned authority of the district has made the residents anxious as well as have sparked a feeling of terror within them; social media posts highlighting the imposing of lockdown if any positive cases are to be found.
There are several questions lurking over the matter, where many have been questioning the authorities about the same. One user through social media wrote, “You need to clarify if (the lockdown) will really be lifted after samples are collected.” while another asked, “If there are abnormal results after the tests, what you will do? Continue the lockdown?”
The likely lockdown in Shanghai, which is a major global hub for trade, has incited terror among the residents, as it is further going to put pressure on the already strained global chain of supply.
However, in the recent days, the city is healing back again as commuters have been back in the subway and people have been flocking back to their workplaces through buses. There has also been gathering of residents in parks and waterfront, which is a positive sign for Shanghai.
However, what happens in Shanghai in the coming days remains a significant development to follow. In comparison to Shanghai, China’s capital, Beijing, is transitioning more efficiently towards a normal cycle of life, after a month’s outbreak which closed down restaurants, subway stations, movie halls, gyms and other places of leisure.
