\n \n \n “. concat(self. i18n. t(‘search. voice. recognition_retry’), “\n
* Most districts enclosed in an 18 million generation center
* Mass testing, suspension of shipments comes into effect
* In Chengdu, it will close from Monday
By David Kirton
SHENZHEN, China, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Most citizens at China’s Shenzhen tech hub were stranded over the weekend as mass COVID-19 testing began in much of the city of 18 million people. went into effect two days after the city government said rumors of a shutdown were based on a “misinterpretation” of the most recent COVID-19 measures and prevention.
Residents of six neighborhoods that make up the majority of the city’s population will be screened twice over the weekend, which will help “minimize the impact on the lives of people who run,” the city government said in a statement posted Saturday on its official WeChat account. .
“Netizens agreed, leaving comments that strengthening prevention and outbreak on weekends in some Shenzhen spaces is the fastest and most effective way to break the chain of transmission of the virus. “
Areas in the six main districts that have been classified as “high-risk areas” will remain closed for seven days, with an extent imaginable if more positive cases are discovered, according to a Reuters review of district authorities’ announcements published between Thursday and Saturday. .
Lin Hancheng, a public health official in Shenzhen, told a news conference saturday that citizens deserve to stay home as much as possible and avoid gatherings. He did not specify how many other people were affected by the restrictions.
One user from each family will be able to leave their compound after two days to buy food, medicine and basic necessities, the six districts said.
The restrictions followed state media reports on Thursday that quoted the city’s fitness government as saying announcements of the new COVID-19 measures had been “misinterpreted” as a lockdown, calling on citizens to “work and live without worries. “
In the city’s Futian neighborhood, Candice, a 28-year-old who works at a headhunting company, expressed dismay at the new lockdown measures.
“The worry of moving, the constant disruption of work, will have to be worse than the virus itself,” he said, declining to give his full name.
Authorities on Friday reported 87 new locally transmitted COVID infections in Shenzhen, as they did the day before. Seven of the new cases were outdoor quarantine areas.
‘COVID ZERO’
Shenzhen’s new measures reflect China’s strict adherence to a “dynamic COVID ZERO” policy of canceling the outbreak.
In the southwestern city of Chengdu, which put its other 21 million people under lockdown on Thursday, the government announced the suspension of in-person instruction for primary and secondary schools starting Monday.
A Foxconn factory in the city that makes Apple iPads was operating normally on Friday night, according to a message sent to Reuters on Saturday.
U. S. chipmaker Intel Corp has taken “preventative measures” at a chip factory it operates in Chengdu in reaction to the outbreak, a spokesman told Reuters.
Meanwhile, social media platforms like Weibo were flooded with comments on Friday night as Chengdu citizens undergoing mandatory COVID testing complained about long lines and waiting times due to a malfunction in the city’s computer system.
The Chengdu city government on Saturday announced a slight remnant of the city’s existing lockdown regime, which begins with home and mass testing until Sunday.
Residents with COVID negative in the last 48 hours can already leave their premises, use public transport and enter hospitals.
The city reported 155 new local authorities for Friday, up from 150 the day before.
COVID curbs have wreaked havoc among city residents.
Sophia Li, who runs a homestay business, said in the past she had a monthly income source of 12,000 to 20,000 yuan ($1,700 to $2,900) in the peak tourism season, but her source of income has since plummeted.
“With the existing blockade, there is literally no revenue,” he said. And I’m the only one, a lot of freelancers are under increasing monetary pressure. “via Ben Blanchard, Josh Horwitz and Siyi Liu Written via Eduardo Baptista Edited via Helen Popper)