New demonstrations of dissent in some cities in China against the expansion of social restrictions linked to the increase in Covid cases all over the country. Protests, as reported by some media, have been registered in the far western Chinese region of Xinjiang and in the country’s capital, Beijing.
Crowds descended on Xinjiang capital Urumqi, chanting “end of lockdown” and raising his fists in the air, after a fire that claimed the lives of 10 people last Thursday sparked anger over the delay in relief efforts that could be linked to restrictive anti-Covid policies.
Many of Unruqi’s 4 million residents have been subjected to longer covid lockdowns than in the rest of the country, with people banned from leaving their homes for up to 100 days.
In the capital Beijing, 2,700km (1,678 miles) away, some self-isolating residents staged small-scale protests or confronted their local officials over travel restrictions, and in some cases bans were lifted before the planned.
China continues with the zero Covid policy as a life saver and necessary to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system. And the protests do not stop this line.
Two days ago it was established that banks’ reserves will be cut, for the second time this year, by injecting new liquidity into the market to prop up a faltering economy.
The coming weeks could be the worst in China, for both the economy and the health care system, analysts explained, since efforts to contain the current outbreak will require additional localized lockdowns in many cities, which will further depress economic activity
