BEIJING (dpa-AFX) – The number of daily new infections with the corona virus in China has risen to its highest level in half a year. As the National Health Commission announced in Beijing on Tuesday, more than 7,400 cases were reported. This is the highest level since the east Chinese port city of Shanghai was locked down for two months in March and April.
As the rest of the world tries to live with the virus, China is implementing a strict zero-Covid strategy with lockdowns, mass testing every day, strict control, contact tracing and forced quarantine. Despite this, the number of new infections is increasing every day, while easily contagious omicron variants spread quickly. The number has tripled in two weeks.
According to foreign estimates, lockdowns apply to tens of millions of people, who are responsible for a tenth of economic output. Hopes for a relaxation of the zero-tolerance policy disappointed the health authorities again last weekend. The only prospect was that the strict measures would be adjusted in order to reduce the impact, costs and duration.
Lockdowns are no longer openly spoken of, but rather “temporary control” or “shutdown”. Neighborhoods are gradually being locked down so big announcements are no longer being made, which then surprises many residents.
Public discontent is growing. Residents of megacities have to prove a negative PCR test on the Corona app at the entrances to supermarkets, residential complexes or restaurants. It must not be older than 48 or 72 hours. They also have to scan themselves with their mobile phones so that their movements can be tracked. Anyone identified as a possible contact must isolate themselves.
With the only few permitted entries from abroad anyway, seven to ten days of quarantine in a hotel room are mandatory. Some local authorities are imposing additional restrictions. When traveling domestically, proof is required that you do not come from “high-risk areas”.
Since China has never had widespread infections with Covid-19, there is little natural immunity in the population of billions. Older or chronically ill people were often excluded from the vaccination campaigns for fear of side effects, so that this group is particularly at risk. Also, China has not approved foreign advanced vaccines such as mRNA vaccines, only using its own conventional products.
There is also a lack of understanding among foreign experts that, from their point of view, the vaccination or booster campaign is not being pushed forward more intensively. During his visit to Beijing on Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz received assurances that Biontech’s mRNA vaccine (BioNTech (ADRs)) could be approved, at least for foreigners. Conversations are running./lw/DP/stk