SHANGHAI: Stiffening resolve after three weeks of strict lockdown, authorities warned Shanghai's 25 million frazzled residents on Friday that their purgatory would go on until the COVID-19 virus was eradicated neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
"I have no idea whether I will ever be allowed to go out again in my lifetime, I'm falling into depression," one user commented on China's Twitter-like Weibo beneath a report by state news agency Xinhua on the latest measures announced in Shanghai late on Thursday.
Another user asked: "How much longer is this going to last?"
Offering a glimmer of light, the city government said on its official WeChat account that infections were showing a "positive trend" and that life could return to normal soon as long as people stuck to strict rules to curb the spread of the virus.
Yet some Shanghai districts tightened restrictions on movement, and even in neighbourhoods that met criteria for people to be allowed to leave their homes officials were ordering them to stay put, fraying nerves in households that have endured weeks of isolation.
"Our goal is to achieve community zero-COVID as soon as possible," the government said, referring to a target to stamp out transmission outside quarantined areas.
"This is an important sign of winning this major, hard battle against the epidemic...so that we can restore normal production and order to life as soon as possible."
When infections began to surge at the start of April, almost everyone in Shanghai was ordered to stay at home. As a result, residents have lost income, suffered family separations and have had difficulty meeting basic needs.
Health officials raised hopes this week for some return to normal by saying transmission had been curbed, only for city officials to tighten restrictions a day later, causing widespread confusion and indignation.
Late on Thursday, Shanghai announced a new round of "nine major" actions, including daily city-wide testing from Friday, minimising people movement and accelerating transfers to quarantine centres.
TAKEN AWAY
Videos circulated on social media this week of busloads of people being taken to quarantine, at times outside Shanghai.
Some residents complain that isolation orders are issued en masse and indiscriminately for the sake of speed and efficiency, with little consideration for individual circumstances.
Resident Zhang Chen, 30, told Reuters her four-year-old son and his 84-year-old grandmother were taken to quarantine on Sunday, along with her in-laws and she was worried the poor conditions in the facility may affect their health.
She said meals lack nutrition - breakfast is two slices of toast; the building is dusty and only partly renovated; there are no showers; and there are too few toilets.
"They are patients, not criminals. But here it’s like they’re criminals, and being sent off to suffer," Zhang said.
Former journalist Zhi Ye said on social media her 94-year-old grandmother was taken to quarantine at 2 a.m. on Tuesday by people in hazmat suits who pried open the door to her flat. She later posted that her grandmother had returned home after three negative tests.
Zhi declined comment.
The Shanghai government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
GATHERING FOR TESTS
The Chinese financial hub reported 15,698 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases, down from 15,861 a day earlier.
New symptomatic cases fell to 1,931 from 2,634.
Cases outside quarantined areas, dropped to 250 from 441. Other cities that have been under lockdown began easing restrictions once they hit zero such cases.
Eleven people infected with COVID-19 died in Shanghai on April 21, authorities said, taking the tally to 36 -- all recorded in the past five days.
Many residents have expressed doubts over the figures, saying they had friends or relatives who died as early as March after catching COVID-19. The Shanghai government did not respond to questions on the death toll.
Another source of angst was that mass PCR tests forced residents to gather in large groups, that many people feared would increase the risk of catching the virus. Some said they have refused such tests.
"Daily PCR tests will cause repeated cross-infection," said one Weibo user. "We have to make sure it's safe before trying to speed things up."
Reuters
Fri Apr 22 2022
A woman tries to buy food from a vendor behind barricades of a sealed-off area, during lockdown amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Shanghai, China. - REUTERS
[TERKINI] Sultan Selangor perkenan Selangor FC tidak hadir, kecewa dengan MFL
Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj memberi perkenan dan menyokong sepenuhnya keputusan pasukan Selangor FC untuk tidak ke perlawanan Piala Sumbangsih 2024 yang dijadual pada Jumaat.
Baginda bagaimanapun menzahirkan rasa kecewa kerana pihak Liga Bola Sepak Malaysia (MFL) menolak permohonan Selangor FC supaya menangguhkan perlawanan berkenaan.
Baginda bagaimanapun menzahirkan rasa kecewa kerana pihak Liga Bola Sepak Malaysia (MFL) menolak permohonan Selangor FC supaya menangguhkan perlawanan berkenaan.
Sultan Sharafuddin perkenan Selangor FC tidak hadir Piala Sumbangsih, kecewa dengan MFL
Selangor FC sedia berdepan dengan apa sahaja tindakan susulan tidak hadir ke Piala Sumbangsih, titah Sultan Sharafuddin.
TH sentiasa ingatkan jemaah haji patuhi peraturan baharu kerajaan Arab Saudi
Patuhi setiap peraturan baharu yang dikenakan Kerajaan Arab Saudi bagi mengelakkan sebarang masalah, pesan Menteri Agama.
Sistem paparan maklumat laluan MRT Kajang alami gangguan
Rapid KL dalam kenyataan memaklumkan pihak teknikal sedang berada di lokasi untuk kerja baik pulih.
20 ekor anjing terperangkap dalam situasi banjir di Brazil
Kira-kira 20 ekor anjing terperangkap dalam sebuah bangunan di negeri paling selatan Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul.
Situasi itu mendorong sukarelawan penyelamat menyertai misi penyelamatan mereka pada Rabu ketika usaha mencari mangsa hujan lebat yang telah membunuh 100 dan menyebabkan 128 hilang, masih diteruskan.
Situasi itu mendorong sukarelawan penyelamat menyertai misi penyelamatan mereka pada Rabu ketika usaha mencari mangsa hujan lebat yang telah membunuh 100 dan menyebabkan 128 hilang, masih diteruskan.
Puting beliung musnahkan bahagian hadapan kedai di Michigan
Puting beliung yang melanda Michigan mengakibatkan bahagian hadapan kedai musnah tanpa dinding atau bumbung di sebuah pusat beli-belah kecil di Portage, Michigan pada Rabu.
Seorang pengurus restoran berkata, situasi itu memaksa kakitangannya berteduh di dalam peti sejuk restoran tersebut, bagi menyelamatkan nyawa mereka.
Seorang pengurus restoran berkata, situasi itu memaksa kakitangannya berteduh di dalam peti sejuk restoran tersebut, bagi menyelamatkan nyawa mereka.
Wanita Israel tuntut pembebasan 130 tebusan di Gaza
Wanita di Israel berhimpun di Tel Aviv pada Rabu, menuntut pembebasan kira-kira 130 tebusan yang masih ditahan di Gaza selepas enam bulan perang Israel terhadap Hamas.
Perdana Menteri Benjamin Netanyahu berdepan tekanan dan bergelut dengan tekanan di dalam dan luar negara apabila beliau membuat pertimbangan sejauh mana operasi mengalahkan hamas di rafah akan terus dilakukan.
Perdana Menteri Benjamin Netanyahu berdepan tekanan dan bergelut dengan tekanan di dalam dan luar negara apabila beliau membuat pertimbangan sejauh mana operasi mengalahkan hamas di rafah akan terus dilakukan.
Tentera Israel adakan latihan tembakan di Golan Heights
Tentera Israel mengadakan latihan tembakan secara langsung di Golan Heights yang dikuasai rejim itu pada Rabu.
Golan Heights merupakan sebahagian daripada Syria sehingga tahun 1967, namun ditawan Israel dalam Perang Enam Hari, yang kemudiannya diduduki dan dijajah rejim itu pada tahun 1981.
Golan Heights merupakan sebahagian daripada Syria sehingga tahun 1967, namun ditawan Israel dalam Perang Enam Hari, yang kemudiannya diduduki dan dijajah rejim itu pada tahun 1981.
Kementerian Komunikasi mahu fokus kembangkan industri perfileman ke Asia Tenggara
Industri perfileman Asia Tenggara juga mempunyai potensi yang besar berdasarkan jumlah penduduk di rantau ini.
Serangan Israel di Rafah tidak boleh diterima - AS
Israel bertanggungjawab untuk membuka lintasan Rafah bagi membenarkan pekerja bantuan dan kemanusiaan memasuki lintasan itu secepat mungkin membantu pelarian di sana.
Jurucakap Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat, Matthew Miller berkata ia keputusan Israel untuk merampas, menyerang dan mengawal lintasan Rafah adalah tidak boleh diterima.
Jurucakap Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat, Matthew Miller berkata ia keputusan Israel untuk merampas, menyerang dan mengawal lintasan Rafah adalah tidak boleh diterima.
Pasaran getah Malaysia ditutup tinggi jejaki prestasi serantau
Ia seiring dengan pengukuhan niaga hadapan getah Shanghai berikutan sentimen dirangsang oleh data ekonomi China yang menggalakkan.
Skuad B-23 negara jalani pemulihan selepas tumbangkan China
Skuad B-23 negara mencuri tumpuan apabila menewaskan China 1-0 dalam aksi persahabatan tertutup di Shanghai semalam.
TPM Fadillah tiba di China untuk misi perdagangan minyak sawit
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tiba di Shanghai, China dalam lawatan rasmi sulungnya ke negara itu.
China akan bekerjasama dengan semua negara untuk berkongsi peluang dalam pasarannya
China juga akan meningkatkan usaha memupuk pasaran domestik yang teguh dan mengimport lebih banyak produk berkualiti.
Selepas Jepun, Taufan Muifa mula beralih ke China
Selepas membadai Jepun, Taufan Muifa kini mula beralih ke perairan China.
Shanghai umum pembukaan semula sesi persekolahan secara fizikal
Shanghai menutup semua sekolah pada pertengahan Mac lalu sebelum kawalan pergerakan selama dua bulan.
COVID-19: Shanghai kesan sub-varian baharu Omicron
Kes itu ditemukan di daerah kewangan Pudong pada 8 Julai lalu dan dikaitkan dengan kes dari luar negara.
COVID-19: Shanghai perketat perintah berkurung hingga akhir Mei
Larangan itu adalah sebahagian daripada usaha mencapai matlamat "sifar kes di peringkat komuniti".
Sukan Asia 2022 tidak ditunda - MOM
Desas-desus mengatakan Sukan Asia 2022 di Hangzhou ditunda ke tahun depan adalah tidak benar, kata Presiden Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria..
COVID-19: Shanghai rekod tiga kematian warga emas
Ketiga-tiga mangsa itu yang berusia antara 89 hingga 91 tahun juga dikesan mempunyai masalah kesihatan lain.