China's Shanghai extends Covid lockdown. What does it mean for residents?
Seems like China's Shanghai is struggling to contain its Covid-19 wave as Pudong district's lockdown, initally meant to last only till April 1, has now been extended till April 11.
Meanwhile, the downtown area of Puxi in the west of Huangpu River, began its lockdown on April 1, meaning that the majority of Shanghai's 25-million population is currently under a lockdown.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR RESIDENTS: The China government announced on March 31 that residential areas where people test Covid-19 positive, would be sealed off for another 10 days. Residential areas where no positive cases have emerged will remain in lockdown for another 3 days. All Metro services, public transportation, taxi services have been suspended in Puxi till the end of the lockdown.
Bans on restaurant dining and entertainment venues will continue, while residents in Shanghai have been asked to not cross the Huangpu River to either side.
On March 31, Shanghai reported 355 locally transmitted cases and 5,298 asymptomatic local cases. Starting April 1, Puxi's 16 million residents will be subjected to mass nucleic acid tests.
IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF THE LOCKDOWN: Videos and photos of the situation in Shanghai have emerged on Twitter. One user posted a video of how Shanghai looks during the lockdown. You can watch it here:
Ghost town — Shanghai in an eerie quiet lockdown. With 26 million official residents*, Shanghai is one of the most populated cities on Earth. It looks like a movie—but it’s real. ?You can also spot the isolation centers at the 40 sec mark.*Undocumented locals=>millions more. pic.twitter.com/TS0btjGueO
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) March 30, 2022
Another user posted pictures of the vegetables they are receiving in the housing compound:
Meanwhile my friend in Huangpu sent me these pictures. Everyone in the housing compound has been given vegetables. On the last pic, my friend says “No idea what this is but have two of them now” ?. #shanghai #lockdown pic.twitter.com/OXWAMsSjtB
— Edward Lawrence (@EP_Lawrence) March 31, 2022
The most interesting video to emerge is of a robot dog that roams on the streets and loudly makes announcements. Watch it here:
Full Lockdown in Shanghai, this is how they broadcast announcements. Robot Dog + Speakers#Shanghai #COVID #Lockdown pic.twitter.com/5kJdLrnL8p
— Jay in Shanghai ?? (@JayinShanghai) March 29, 2022
ECONOMIC DECLINE: The extension of Shanghai's lockdown has impacted China's economy tremendously. For the first time in two years, the factory activity in China has fallen. Based on the Caixin/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI), the output fell from 50.4 in February 2022 to 48.1 in March 2022.
A big miss: 48.1 vs 49.9 expected and 50.4 previously.That was March. April is going to be horrible with the Shanghai lockdown extended. And this will reverberate regionally and globally as impacts both demand and supply. https://t.co/w6gTrhOJcs
— Trinh (@Trinhnomics) April 1, 2022
The Caixin/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index is used to measure "performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey of private 430 industrial companies".
SHANGHAI NOT PREPARED ENOUGH: The rising economic decline and extension of lockdown has led the local government to apologise for its lack of preparation. The Secretary General of the Shanghai municipal government, Ma Chunlei told reporters, "Our awareness of the highly infectious and insidious Omicron mutant strain was not sufficient, and our preparation for the significant rise in infections was not comprehensive."
While city-wide nucleic acid testing and antigen self-testing are being conducted, problems have arisen in the past week. To minimise them, Chunlei revealed that the local government is strengthening the 'directing mechanism' and has established 6 special working groups meant to focus on building quarantine sites and securing daily necessities. The groups will also be responding to residents' demands.
Asking for unity among Shanghai's residents, Chunlei said, "Shanghai is at a crucial stage in the battle against the epidemic. What we need most is the understanding and support from all the residents, the confidence and persistence of the city's epidemic prevention team, the responsibilities of Party members and officials. We have the confidence, determination and ability to win the battle against the epidemic with the support of the city's 25 million residents, and the normal life will come back."