The Chinese capital lay deserted in the wake of the recent lockdown that prevailed with the hike in COVID cases. This Thursday total number of reported cases ranged to 31,444, the highest in the nation since the outbreak of the virus.
The symptoms however stay mild or none at all in these new cases compared to the omicron or delta variant that brought havoc in the whole world but the Chinese government stays adamant on its 'zero covid approaches'. The approach has shrunk its parameters from the whole country to targeting areas like Guangzhou, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, and Beijing which have seen a serious outbreak.
The closed offices, abandoned parks, and malls give a contrasting picture to the rest of the globe which has returned to normalcy. This has also surged protests in the cities where citizens seem to not take it anymore. The 'open letter' on social media denouncing the COVID restriction in China gained a lot of support and naturally was detected on 'We Chat', a social media app in China.
The circulation of the letter and growing resentment took heat from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar where the Chinese audience saw the world as free and relaxed. The lockdown also plants worry in the citizens as they question the effect on the Nation's economy and the mental health of youth with schools and University education at a halt. Due to the lockdown at Chongqing and Zhengzhou which are prominent centers of iPhone manufacturing plants, employees are suffering over their pay and organized protests. In retaliation, they were beaten and detained by the authorities. Further authorities have ordered residents of eight districts in the central province of Henan, in Zhengzhou, to be barred from leaving the area for the next five days, constructing barriers around the apartment buildings surrounded by the highest risk of spread and organizing checkpoints to restrain travel. Footage on social media shows people tearing down these barricades and attacking police as well.
The government sticks to the theory with the fear of mass deaths and possible fracture of the health system. People seem to have enough of the barriers imposed especially when the new cases have not been reported the severity like before and with the world coming back to normal circumstances of playing on the ground and studying in classes. With more than 3 years of uncertainty and lockdown the Chinese citizen long for freedom. The skirmish between the authorities and people would probably increase with the record-breaking cases of 31,444 reported by the National Health Commission will probably increase the restriction in more cities and more severely in the application
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