On Tuesday, millions of residents in areas surrounding China’s capital, Beijing were ordered into lockdown as authorities doubles down on efforts to contain further spread of Covid-19 ahead of a key ruling Communist Party meeting this year.
Nearly four million people in Hebei province in the Beijing environs has been ordered to stay home until the end of the week as officials try to curb another virus flare-up.
Also, more than 13 million in the neighbouring port city of Tianjin has been ordered to undergo mass testing from 6 am (2200 GMT), after 51 cases were reported in the area.
Clariform reports that China is the only major global economy sticking to a zero-Covid tolerance policy hence lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing have disrupted business activities and hampered growth.
This is a preventive measure to prevent escalation and further spread of the virus ahead of the Communist Party’s 20th National Congress which is scheduled to hold within the next three months.
The way the Chineese government is handling the pandemic has been widely described as pivotal to the political legacy of President Xi Jinping, who is set to get an unprecedented third term in office at the meeting.
Nomura analyst Ting Lu warned in a research note said, “the actual Covid situation in China might be worsening, as Omicron has once again spread to large cities.”
Western China’s largest city, Chengdu has also experienced strict travel restrictions recently.
Also, the southern tech hub of Shenzhen has two districts under partial lockdown, while the world’s biggest electronics market in Huaqiangbei has been totally shut down despite just 35 daily cases being reported in the city of over 18 million.
A trader at the Huaqiangbei tech market, who wish to be identified as Chen told said:
“The notice to close came abruptly, we only had a few hours to put our stock into warehouses and lock up.”
Cinemas, karaoke bars and parks are closed until Friday and large public events have been cancelled in Futian, where the city government is located.
Government officials also sealed off Wanxia, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Beingn although no cases were reported there
