After Shanghai, the most populous city in the country confined since the beginning of April, Beijing has been under travel restrictions for a week and many public places (restaurants, cafes, gyms…) are closed.
On Monday, authorities strictly limited access to non-essential services in the district of Chaoyangthe most dynamic and populated of the capital.
The bustling commercial district of Sanlitun in eastern Beijing was deserted on Monday. The Apple store, for example, was ordered to close minutes after opening its doors. “I don’t feel comfortable with so few people around me”A cleaning worker named Wang told AFP as she waited to enter the restaurant where she is employed.
“I’m in charge of disinfection, I can’t work from home,” he added. Some workers in the finance sector moved to hotels near their offices.
“Our company told us that we should try not to go home because they believe there is risk on the journey,” said a Beijing investment manager who moved into a hotel not far from his workplace. “Some of my friends were advised not to take public transportation to work, and instead drive or bike,” he added.
Beijing on Monday announced 49 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. In Shanghai, the number of daily infections fell below 4,000 on Monday, after having exceeded 25,000 at the end of April.
The current epidemic outbreak has killed more than 500 people in Shanghai, according to official data. In total, China has officially recorded some 5,000 deaths due to the virus since the start of the pandemic.
After nearly 40 days of confinement and some food supply problems, the inhabitants of Shanghai begin to show their exasperation. In the Zhuanqiao neighborhood, several residents confronted officials equipped with comprehensive anti-Covid protection this weekend, according to a video posted on social media.
“The police acted quickly to convince the curious to disperse and bring calm”local authorities reported. “According to an investigation carried out on the spot, the rioters had enough food at home,” said the same sources.
The confinement in the Chinese economic capital, a port of entry and exit for goods, has a great impact on the economy of the Asian giant. Last month, China’s exports advanced at their lowest rate for almost two years (+3.9%).
Analysts contacted by the Bloomberg agency estimated that the slowdown would be more pronounced (+2.7%), after a rise of 14.7% in one year in March. This is the worst increase in Chinese exports since June 2020 (+0.5%).
Source: Ambito
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