For years, Chinese officials bragged about their low levels of COVID.
And while the validity of those claims is questionable, the latest outbreak apparently can’t be swept under the rug.
Karma has finally arrived in Beijing.
China’s capital Beijing is experiencing an “explosive” COVID-19 outbreak connected to a bar, a government spokesman said on Saturday, as the commercial hub, Shanghai,conducted mass testing to contain a jump in cases tied to a hair salon.The warning followed a new tightening of COVID curbs in Beijing since Thursday, with at least two districts closing some entertainment venues after a flare-up in a neighbourhood full of nightlife, shopping and embassies.
The bars in one district were cited as being the location of this super-spreader event.
Some people in Beijing said they were sent texts telling them to report to authorities if they had recently visited Sanlitun’s bars.Chinese officials have reversed the relaxation of some Covid rules in Beijing because of the outbreak.Most children in the capital will not return to school next week as originally planned, officials said.The capital has reported 1,997 local Covid cases since 22 April.
Chinese officials are bitterly clinging to failed zero-covid policies.
Regular testing of residents is becoming the new normal in many parts of China as the ruling Communist Party sticks steadfastly to a “zero-COVID” approach that is increasingly at odds with the rest of the world.Major cities have been told to set up testing stations within a 15-minute walk for all residents. Beijing and Shanghai alone have put up 10,000 or more each. Some are made up of folding tables and chairs under a temporary canopy. Others are enclosed square booths from which gloved workers reach out through openings to take a quick throat swab from the next person in line.Many cities including Beijing are requiring a negative test result within the last three days to enter a public place or take the bus or subway. Some have made it a week or 10 days. The tests are free, with the result reflected on the person’s smartphone health app roughly 12 hours later.Many cities including Beijing are requiring a negative test result within the last three days to enter a public place or take the bus or subway. Some have made it a week or 10 days. The tests are free, with the result reflected on the person’s smartphone health app roughly 12 hours later.
I would suggest the Chinese could save billions in testing cost and preserve the mental health of their population by just assuming everyone will be infected. However, given the stunts pulled by their officials at the beginning of this pandemic, I will sit back and enjoy the schadenfreude.
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