The country reports 31,444 new transmitted cases, the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic
China imposed a new circular of Covid lockdowns, adding in a city where staff at the world’s largest iPhone factory clashed with police this week, as a record coronavirus case tests its commitment to adhere to the rest of the world to ease pandemic restrictions.
The National Health Commission on Wednesday reported 31,444 new locally transmitted covid cases, the highest daily figure since the coronavirus was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in China in late 2019.
The government responded by tightening Covid restrictions in cities, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and ordering mass testing.
In Hengzhou, in central Henan province, where clashes broke out Tuesday and Wednesday between police and protesting staff at Foxconn’s iPhone factory, the government announced a five-day lockdown for about 6 million people. Residents were ordered to stay in their homes and perform PCR. Evidence in a “war of annihilation” against the virus.
One told AFP news firm that the protests had started over a dispute over promised bonuses at the Foxconn plant and “chaotic” living conditions.
Foxconn, the Taiwanese owner of the plant, which employs about 200,000 more people in Zhengzhou, is desperate to continue operations after a handful of covid cases forced it to close the plant, and has hired new staff from across the country with advantageous packages. to update the thousands of other people who left last month. Employees said the protests began after the company updated the terms of its pay.
Online videos showed thousands of other people masked in front of rows of police in white protective gear with plastic shields. Police kicked and beat a protester with batons after he grabbed a steel pole that had been used to beat him.
Many workers accepted invoices from the company and returned home Thursday. Some said on social media that they had won 10,000 yuan (£1,150) bonuses in exchange for terminating their contracts.
Foxconn apologized Thursday for what it called “an input error in the computer system” and said it would make sure the salary was the same as promised on official hiring posters. “Regarding the violent incident, the company will continue to talk to the staff. “and the government to prevent similar incidents from falling again,” one company said.
China’s strict enforcement of China’s “dynamic zero Covid” policy for almost 3 years has weighed on its economy and fueled people’s frustration.
On November 11, the government announced it would shorten quarantines and relax other restrictions, a move that was perceived as aimed at easing economic pressures and calming public discontent. But at the same time, senior officials warned executives to let their guard down.
Among the new measures, Guangzhou imposed a five-day lockdown in Baiyun district starting Monday to curb the surge in cases. lift restrictions.
The government of Changchun city in the northeastern province of Jilin has suggested citizens suspend non-essential activities and avoid visiting public places, restaurants and public gatherings.
Shanghai has tightened restrictions on arrivals in the city. A notice on the city’s official WeChat account said that other people traveling to the city starting Thursday will be tested for covid and banned from going to restaurants and buying groceries at malls, among other public places, for five days after arrival.
Beijing has imposed new verification requirements for travelers and residents entering. It requires a negative PCR verification result within 48 hours for public places, such as grocery shopping, shopping malls, hotels and government buildings, to enter. Schools in the city have switched to online classes.
Although the number of cases is relatively small compared to global figures, even small outbreaks in China cause districts and cities to close. Authorities this week reported China’s first covid deaths in six months, bringing the total to 5232.
A Zhengzhou resident who was among those rushing to buy food at a market before the shutdown said on the Sina Weibo social media platform: “All the stalls were full of other people and the costs skyrocketed. . . No one was smiling. “
While China’s borders remain largely closed, the government has developed measures to facilitate the exit and access procedure for executives of foreign companies, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Additional from The Associated Press, Agence France Presse and Reuters.