China puts city of Shulan under Wuhan-style lockdown after fresh Covid-19 cases
Chinese authorities have sealed off the
north-eastern city of Shulan, home to about 700,000 people, after an outbreak
of coronavirus, imposing measures similar to those used in Wuhan.
All villages and residential compounds in the city
were closed off, and only one person from each household allowed out for two
hours every second day for essentials.
The development came as Beijing signalled it could
ease some border restrictions as it prepares for the start on Thursday of its
signature political event, the Communist party’s delayed annual congress, also
known as the “two sessions”.
In Shulan, residential compounds were restricted to
just one entry and exit for emergency vehicles, and banned non-residents and
vehicles from entering. If there are confirmed cases in a community residence,
no one can enter or leave.
Last week, the city was reclassified as high risk
after a cluster of cases emerged connected to a woman with no known history of
travel or exposure to the virus. In response, authorities ordered the temporary
closure of public places, schools and public transport.
On Monday however these restrictions were increased
further, with China Daily referring to the city as “the latest pandemic hotspot
in the country”. It said hundreds of people were under medical quarantine, and
that life might not go back to normal for weeks.
On Tuesday, another nearby city introduced
protective measures.
Jilin province authorities said that due to the
“severe circumstances” of the epidemic in the areas surrounding the city of
Jiaohe, public transport inside the city and between the city and neighbouring
counties would be stopped until further notice.
The north-east of the country, which borders Russia
and North Korea, has emerged as an area of serious concern, as cases appear to
have been brought in from across the border, and then begun to spread locally.
At least 34 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19
in Jilin province in the past fortnight.
Despite the highest level of lockdowns prompted by
just a few dozen cases, Chinese media have said the country can handle more
imported cases and will likely begin opening up again.
Chinese media has reported the country is likely to
ease its border controls after the two sessions meeting, which begins Thursday.
Relaxed entry rules could apply to Chinese students
overseas who want to return home after graduating, and business travellers, but
not large numbers of tourists yet, according to academics quoted by the Global
Times.
Zhou Zijun, a public health expert at Peking
university, told the paper China “can now properly handle a small level of
imported cases”.
Discussions were reportedly beginning between
countries including China, Japan and South Korea, about opening channels for
business travel, with strict testing requirements.
On Monday China reported six new cases of Covid-19,
of which three were local transmissions. Two were in Jilin province, and one in
Hubei. The national health commission also reported 17 new asymptomatic
coronavirus cases.
Chinese authorities are particularly sensitive to
the possibility of further outbreaks, just days out from its annual “two
sessions”, which had been postponed from March because of the coronavirus.
While there are extra measures in place to ensure the meeting of party
delegates goes ahead safely, it is a sign that Beijing believes it is beginning
to go back to normal.
At the end of April tens of millions of people
travelled for the first time in months over a five-day national holiday, and
quarantine requirements on people arriving in Beijing were lifted.
Housing officials in charge of residences have been
warned they will be removed from their roles if there are new outbreaks,
prompting speculation this could backfire and lead to local cover-ups. Some
officials in Wuhan – where another small outbreak recently prompted an
ambitious plan to test all 11 million residents – and Jilin province have
already been removed from their posts, Chinese media has reported.
