Guangzhou shuts out new arrivals amid China’s COVID-19 outbreak

Monday’s closing of Guangzhou’s manufacturing center was due to China’s COVID-19 surge in its major eastern cities.

Shanghai is experiencing the greatest rise with an additional 26,087 cases being reported on Monday. Only 914 people showed symptoms. The city of 26 million is under a tight lockdown, with many residents confined to their homes for up to three weeks and concerns growing over the effect on the economy of China’s largest city.

International events were cancelled in the financial hub. Shanghai Port, the local football club, was forced to withdraw from Asian Champions League because it could not travel to Thailand because of travel restrictions.

No such lockdown has yet been announced for Guangzhou, a metropolis of 18 million northwest of Hong Kong that is home to many top companies and China’s busiest airport. Only 27 cases were reported in the area on Monday.

After initial 23 local infections last week, the online primary and middle schools were switched. After the authorities announced earlier that they would be conducting mass testing across the entire city, an exhibition center was being converted to a makeshift hospital.

Only citizens who have a valid driver’s license can apply. “definite need”Guangzhou residents can leave, but only if they are positive for the virus within 48 hours. Chen Bin, a spokesperson for the city, stated in a social media announcement.

China has remained true and consistent with its “zero-COVID”Strategy of dealing with outbreaks using strict isolation and mass testing, despite complaints from Shanghai about shortages of food and services.

China’s government and the entirely state-controlled media are growing increasingly defensive about complaints over the COVID-19 prevention measures, censoring content online and rebuking foreign critics.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated Sunday that China had “lodged solemn representations with the U.S.”After the State Department advised Americans not to travel to China, “arbitrary enforcement”COVID-19 and local laws, particularly in Hong Kong and Jilin provinces and Shanghai. U.S. officials cited a potential risk of “parents and children being separated.”

China was “strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the U.S. side’s groundless accusation against China’s epidemic response,” Zhao said.

Despite the fact that the hardline policy is being imposed by the head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping and other indications, China has rejected the notion that its response is political. Xi demanded social stability in the lead-up to a key party congress later in the year, at which he will be bestowing an unprecedented third term as party leader.

The English-language China Daily acknowledged that Shanghai’s measures are “far from perfect,”It pointed to the firing last Wednesday of three local officials who had failed to uphold their duties. But it said that shouldn’t become an “excuse to politicize the event and blame China.”

Zhao issued a further defense of China’s virus controls on Monday, saying they have “proven to be effective and in line with its national conditions and needs, and have made an important contribution to the global fight against the epidemic.”

Shanghai has brought thousands of additional health workers, including those from other cities and provinces. Despite the high number of cases, there have been no new deaths in Shanghai. This may be because the omicron variant of the disease is less dangerous than older ones.

After receiving complaints about food deliveries, city officials claim they have secured daily supplies for residents.

Residents have tried group buying groceries to get the items they need, but this has not been a success.

Officials have announced that they will relax restrictions in areas where no new infections were detected for at least two weeks. Residents will be allowed to move about their communities while remaining socially disconnected.

A second group will be allowed in their communities, while others will remain at home.

Chinese club Shanghai Port has been forced by the city’s COVID-19 lockdown to withdraw from the Asian Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said Monday.

Port was unable, due to travel restrictions in the area, to travel to Thailand for six Group J Games.

Its first match was against Vissel Kobe, Japan.

“The AFC acknowledged the travel restrictions faced by Shanghai Port FC as a result of the recent lockdown measures enforced in Shanghai,”The AFC released a statement.

Beijing has had relatively few restrictions. However, the Erjiefang neighborhood, which includes the 798 art district, has been closed off and classified as high-risk after eight infections were reported in the area over the past two week.

China is now facing one its worst local outbreaks ever since the pandemic. China is still closed to international travel, despite the fact that most of the world has tried to live with the virus.