In Beijing, restaurants reopened and workers returned to their offices, but authorities announced the closure of bars and entertainment venues in two central districts, Chaoyang and Dongcheng.
THE Chinese President Xi Jinping asked to be observed “strictly” the zero covid strategyas half of Shanghai’s 25 million people are now preparing to submit again in diagnostic tests.
China still applies strict measures to stop the spread of the new coronavirus: mandatory quarantine for those who are positive in covid and lockdown after detecting even a few cases, while the molecular tests remain mandatory for entering a building or for travel.
This policy, which is strongly advocated by the government and Xi himself, is mainly explained by the fact that many seniors in China have not been vaccinated against covid.
At the same time, the Chinese government is looking for a middle ground as it seeks to eradicate the virus while reducing the impact of lockdowns on the economy, which has hit the catering and hospitality, trade and industrial sectors. production.
«We must effectively coordinate the prevention and control of the epidemic with economic and social development“, but also “to overcome some difficulties“As far as the economy and labor are concerned, Xi pointed out yesterday, Thursday.
The Chinese president stressed, however, that the country should “Strictly adhere to the zero covid strategy”as reported by Xinhua.
Molecular tests
According to many economists, China will have a hard time meeting its growth target “About 5.5%” this year due to the suspension of companies and problems in the supply chain.
The World Bank revised its growth forecast for the Asian giant to 4.3% this week.
The strict lockdown imposed in early April in Shanghai, whose port is one of the most important in the world, dealt a severe blow to the region’s businesses but also to global development.
Shanghai City Hall announced yesterday that all residents of seven areas will have to undergo molecular tests from tomorrow Saturday. This announcement concerns a total of about 14 million people.
In many neighborhoods, Shanghai residents remain locked in their homes until samples are taken from everyone.
The announcement came less than two weeks after the lockdown was lifted in the city, which was marked by food supply problems and tensions between residents and authorities.
Most Shanghai residents have returned to normal since last week, when bars, restaurants reopened and people went out in the parks.
But district authorities continue to impose a number of local restrictions to prevent an outbreak. Hundreds of thousands of people remain locked in their homes.
In the capital, Beijing, where the shadow of the lockdown lingered for a while, restaurants reopened this week and workers returned to their offices.
But the authorities, showing prudence, announced the closing of bars, nightclubs and entertainment venues in two central districts, Chaoyang and Dongcheng, following the outbreak of an infection.
At the national level, the Ministry of Health announced today 73 new cases, of which eight in Beijing and 11 in Shanghai.
