Chinese cities like Guangzhou and Hangzhou want to avoid hard lockdowns like in Shanghai with mass corona tests. Many millions of people are affected. Concern about delivery bottlenecks is growing internationally.
China is facing the worst corona outbreak since the first wave in 2020. In the metropolis of Guangzhou, mass tests were ordered for 5.6 million people, about a third of the population, after a suspected corona case. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled. An “abnormal” test result had previously been found at the airport in the metropolis with a population of 19 million. Located in southern China, Guangzhou is an important trading center and manufacturing base.
In Hangzhou near Shanghai, the authorities even ordered tests for 9.4 million of the more than twelve million inhabitants: Anyone who lives in the city center and wants access to public spaces and transport must be tested every 48 hours.
Shanghai, where a large part of the population has had to stay in lockdown for weeks, reports dozens of deaths every day. Since April 17, 285 people have died in connection with the corona virus. However, there are doubts as to whether these official figures reflect the actual extent.
Beijing wants to prevent lockdown
In the current outbreak, around 150 cases have been registered in the capital Beijing. The authorities are also taking action there: A large proportion of the 22 million inhabitants have to be tested several times by Saturday. According to the authorities, they want to prevent a situation like that in Shanghai.
Schoolchildren accounted for almost a third of Beijing’s cases, which is why online classes have been ordered in some districts of the city. There are exceptions for students who are preparing for important exams. The residents of two residential complexes were asked not to leave them.
Worry about the supply chains
The omicron variant of the coronavirus is currently spreading rapidly in China, pushing the hitherto strict and largely successful zero-Covid strategy with mass testing and tough lockdowns to its limits. There is growing international concern about how the current wave and lockdowns could impact global supply chains. Ships are backing up in front of and in the world’s busiest container port in Shanghai.
