New Delhi: China is witnessing unprecedented protests against strict enforcement of its zero-Covid policy, under which authorities block apartment buildings and even seal off neighborhoods after a resident tests positive for the virus. Let’s confine lakhs of people to their homes. infection. Rallies against strict anti-virus measures have spread to several cities over the past few days in the biggest show of opposition to the ruling Communist Party in decades. whereas Most protesters complain of excessive restrictionsSome have taken their anger out on Xi Jinping, China’s most powerful leader since at least the 1980s. Videos posted online showed protesters chanting ‘Xi Jinping! to resign! CCP! to resign!’.
However, the authorities relaxed some rules to calm public anger. Beijing’s city government announced it would no longer install gates to block access to apartment complexes where infections are found. Guangzhou, a manufacturing and trade hub that is the biggest hot spot in China’s latest wave of infections, also announced that some residents would no longer be required to undergo mass testing. Urumqi, a northwestern city where a fire killed 10 people and prompted angry questions online about whether firefighters or victims tried to escape through locked doors or other anti-virus controls Markets and other businesses in areas with a low risk of infection were announced. Will reopen this week and public bus service will resume.
Although anti-virus restrictions have been eased in some places, the ruling Communist Party has reaffirmed its zero-Covid strategy. A look at some of the COVID-19 measures in China:
China’s zero-covid policy requires incoming passengers to undergo PCR test before boarding
Incoming passengers will have to undergo a PCR test before boarding the flight and will be required to home quarantine for five days in a hotel on arrival and three days on arrival.
Prior to the updated rules earlier this month, passengers were required to undergo two PCR tests before boarding a flight and quarantine seven days in a hotel and three days at home. The first quarantine period was 14 days.
China’s ‘circuit breaker’ policy shuts down flights if passengers test Covid-19 positive
China also ended its “circuit breaker” policy Shutting down a flight for a week or two if a certain percentage of passengers on board test positive For COVID-19, the length of the ban depends on how many people have had the virus.
Travelers who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 need to quarantine for 8 days
Passengers on domestic flights, trains or buses who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 are required to self-quarantine for five days at designated sites, as well as three days at home.
Prior to November’s changes, quarantine times were longer and close contacts of someone who had been close contacts of someone with the coronavirus also needed to be isolated.
People who visited “high-risk” areas in China are also required to quarantine for seven days at home.
People in China must show their personal ‘green code’
Individuals in China are also required to show their personal “green code”, which indicates they are COVID-19 negative, when entering public places such as shopping malls and restaurants, or using public transportation.
Each person has to register with their identity card, and then the code will be displayed through the smartphone app.
Staying “green” means not being infected with COVID-19, not coming into close contact with someone who has the virus, and not visiting at-risk areas.
If there is an outbreak in your area, local authorities may require regular testing to keep the code green.
Currently in Beijing, residents are required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test at least every 48 hours at a government-approved facility.
covid-19 lockdown in china
Chinese authorities react quickly and decisively to any detection of COVID-19 and seal off parts or entire cities. The decision of whether to close depends on the scale of the virus outbreak, and short lockdowns of buildings, campus areas or city districts are common.
Entire apartment building units are also shut down if a single resident is found to be infected with the virus, and people are not allowed to move out for at least five days. Food and other essential supplies can be ordered for delivery.
Office buildings are also closed if someone in the building tests positive for the coronavirus until the building can be disinfected.
Currently the central urban area of Chongqing, with about 10.3 million people, is under lockdown as part of Guangzhou, a city of 10.5 million people.
in april this year About 190 million people were in full or partial lockdown in 23 Chinese cities,
Other COVID-19 Measures in China
The ruling Communist Party has also implemented a number of other rules that most will be familiar with from the early months of the pandemic. Social distancing is encouraged, and people are required to wear masks in public places.
In areas considered at risk of spreading COVID-19, large gatherings are banned, restaurants are closed for indoor dining, and better disinfection measures are required in public places.
Facilities where people are considered most at risk, such as nursing homes, have so-called “closed-loop management” plans.
(with agency inputs)