China yet again faces burnt of zero-Covid policy; fresh cases rise
Beijing (China), August 30: Despite the Chinese government's tireless efforts to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the outbreak of infection reflects the failure of Xi Jinping's so-called "zero-COVID policy," which has disrupted daily life and caused a significant blow to the slowing economy.
Parts of China have reported an unprecedented rise in the Covid-19 virus, and the outbreak of the fifth wave has caused citizens to face the authoritarian government's ever-increasing restrictions. Shenzhen city shut down the world's largest electronics market and banned public transportation nearby on Monday as authorities imposed neighbourhood-wide lockdowns in response to the virus's emerging fifth wave.
According to the Futian district government, Huaqiangbei, a major shopping centre with thousands of stalls selling computer components, mobile phone parts, and microchips, is one of three areas placed under a mandatory four-day lockdown.
Residents are not allowed to leave their homes except for Covid testing, which they must do every day until Thursday.
All businesses in the impacted areas are closed, with the exception of supermarkets, pharmacies, and hospitals that provide vital services. Restaurant dining has also been suspended, with just takeout allowed.
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Services have also been suspended at 24 subway stations and hundreds of bus stations across Shenzhen, including those near the Huaqiangbei electronics market.
According to CNN, the districts of Luohu and Longgang reportedly closed all entertainment venues and public parks, as well as prohibited gatherings spanning from conferences and performances to square dancing.
At a press conference on Monday, Shenzhen officials stated that the outbreak is being driven mostly by the new subvariant Omicron BF.15, which they claim is more transmittable and difficult to detect.
China is one of the few countries in the world that still maintains a strict zero-Covid policy. The heavy-handed approach has resulted in the classification of dozens of Shenzhen neighbourhoods as "high-risk areas" and the imposition of strict lockdown restrictions.
While the rest of the globe rose to the occasion and navigated its way through the global health crisis during the last two years, China clung to its futile attempt to gain control over an impossible situation.
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-PTC News
