In China it is zero Covid forever: no loosening of restrictions in sight
Zero Covid without end. China seems destined not to reopen its borders for some time yet, but above all not to relax the restrictions on its territory. Beijing is stepping up efforts to contain Covid-19 outbreaks ahead of the Party Congress, with domestic cases surging to their highest in nearly two months and concerns over increased closures sweeping through Shanghai’s financial hub.
In Shanghai, the possibility of a new lockdown after the Dracoian one of last spring is glimpsed with great concern. The neighborhoods of Putuo and Changning have closed entertainment venues, while some places in Minhang have been designated as “medium risk”, which means that residents have been prevented from leaving their homes. Anyone traveling to Shanghai will have to have a negative Covid result within 24 hours of arriving in the city and will have to take three tests in three days.
But what worries the most is the future, given that no signs of a willingness to reopen seem to be visible. On the contrary. As Chinese media reports Caixin, Shanghai Pudong and other districts openly recruited community prevention and control personnel, with a total of 940 recruits. The target audience includes recent graduates (including graduates who have not been hired within 2 years of leaving school) and eligible non-fresh graduates. In terms of the number of hires, 50 were recruited in Huangpu District, 54 in Jing’an District, 70 in Changning District, 84 in Hongkou District and 90 in Yangpu District. Interested parties would be offered two-year contracts. Another sign that China does not seem destined to close its contagion containment policy soon.
The repercussions on the Chinese economy do not stop the restrictions
State media continue to espouse the Covid zero line. In a comment published by the People’s Daily, the party newspaper, the leadership is invited to increase “trust and patience” in the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic. Furthermore, the comment reads, “we must optimize the epidemic prevention and control initiatives, further improve them so that they are more scientific, precise and effective in minimizing the impact on economic development and daily life”. On the other hand, there is no doubt about the Chinese modus operandi: “The current epidemic prevention and control policies are consistent with the specifics of the situation in our country and with science, as well as effective”.
Another comment, published in the People’s Daily on Tuesday 11 October, further clarifies that the zero-case policy is sustainable and must continue over time. “The spread of the epidemic would inevitably have a serious impact on economic and social development (…) ”, The article reiterates. However, it is specified how the strategy to be adopted should be softer and more suited to local conditions: “On the one hand, we cannot relax our prevention and control measures. On the other hand, we must be vigilant against excessive prevention of epidemics and avoid simplifications generated by the adoption of the same strategy everywhere ”.
The restrictions are obviously felt from an economic point of view. According to Caixin’s estimates, China’s service business contracted in September after three months of expansion. Tourist travel was down 18.2% from last year’s holiday season, with 422 million trips recorded during the National Day holiday week, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported Friday. Tourism revenues also dropped even more, down 26% from last year to around $ 40 billion over the holiday.
But the trajectory doesn’t seem to change. At least for now, with Xi Jinping pinning the virus containment medal at the 20th Congress that will give him the third term.
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