China: More mass COVID testing in Beijing, Shanghai, Macau

Residents throughout China are facing new wave of COVID-19 cases. New measures to stop the spread dash hopes that Beijing will end its strict zero-COVID policy.

China is dealing with a new wave of COVID-19 cases. Residents of Shanghai, Beijing and Xi’an were ordered to undergo rounds of tests in a bid to trace sources of the new cases. Tightened restrictions have also been placed on businesses and residents Macau and Hong Kong.

The official response to the outbreak is sparking fresh fears of lockdowns, in line with China’s zero-COVID policy that has begun to face criticism as being untenable.

Fresh lockdown fears in Shanghai
“People now aren’t really scared of COVID anymore; they’re scared of being locked down in their homes,” said a Shanghai resident who gave his name as Yao in an interview with AFP.

Shanghai closed all karaoke bars on Wednesday after an emerging cluster of cases were linked to an illegal karaoke lounge in the city. China’s most-populous city recently emerged fromlockdowns in April and May. Shanghai city officials are now under mounting pressure to contain the new potential spread.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/new-covid-cases-china/a-62379840