The corona virus is spreading in the Chinese economic metropolis of Shanghai. On Sunday, authorities reported nearly 25,000 locally transmitted infections.
While the numbers are still small compared to major American or European cities, China, with the government’s controversial zero Covid strategy, is the biggest outbreak since Wuhan 2019, where the pandemic began.
Authorities have counted about 1,000 cases with symptoms, in addition to nearly 24,000 asymptomatic cases. Shanghai is in severe lockdown due to the outbreak, slowing the economy. At the weekend, too, the streets of the metropolis, where 26 million people live, were again empty.
concern about food
Residents can only leave the house with a special permit. Many supermarkets are closed and thousands of delivery people are unable to work. More and more citizens are expressing concern about food supply and, in some cases, also about access to medical supplies. Videos circulating online show residents arguing loudly with security guards because they need food.
As can be seen in chat groups on social media, there are fears in other cities in the People’s Republic that there could be strict lockdowns. In the city of Guangzhou, population 18 million, authorities are planning mass testing after some cases were reported.