It has been two years since the blockade of the city began in Wuhan, China, where the infection of the new coronavirus first spread.
The Chinese government is still on the alert to curb the spread of the infection before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, such as by blocking the target area if an infected person is confirmed.
In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, where the infection with the new coronavirus first spread, the city was closed for about two and a half months from the 23rd, two years ago, in order to curb the spread.
At that time, the number of infected people in Wuhan increased rapidly and the medical system collapsed, and the authorities said that more than 3,800 citizens had died by April, but no community-acquired infections have been confirmed since August last year. It is said that.
Since the blockade of the city of Wuhan, the Chinese government has indicated that it will continue its "Zero Corona" policy, which does not allow even a slight spread of infection, such as blocking the target area if infected people are confirmed and conducting large-scale PCR tests. I am.
Of these, in Xi'An, Shaanxi Province, which closed the city in December last year, strict restrictions on going out have been imposed on all 13 million citizens, the largest since Wuhan, and some of them are still in effect.
In addition, the Chinese government will curb the spread of the infection before the opening of the Beijing Olympics on February 4, as some areas will be blocked in Beijing, the capital where the infection of the Omicron strain was confirmed, and Tianjin, which is adjacent to it. We are even more vigilant.
Wuhan regains its liveliness
The blockade of the city of Wuhan began two years ago on the 23rd, just before the Chinese New Year's Spring Festival.
Local authorities have said that no community-acquired infections have been confirmed since August last year, and that they have succeeded in curbing the spread of the infection.
The city has also regained its vibrancy, and at the commercial facility, an event was held to sell New Year's Eve supplies, and it was crowded with families.
There is also a corner where you can write and decorate your wishes for the new year, hoping that many people will be healthy.
A 30-year-old woman said, "In Wuhan, the spread of the infection has been successfully controlled, and the feeling of New Year's Eve is increasing."
A 33-year-old woman said, "I was depressed because I couldn't go out when the city was closed. I'm glad I could go out and buy New Year's Eve."
There are also movements supported by volunteers
In Wuhan, volunteers are also moving to support other areas where strict restrictions on going out continue.
Wuhan volunteer group executive Tou Tsukiho (36) said that when Wuhan was blocked, relief supplies were sent from all over the country, so strict restrictions on going out were put in place to show gratitude. We have embarked on support for Xian, Shaanxi Province.
Since December of last year, in Xi'An, where infected people have been infected one after another, there are voices saying that distribution is stagnant and food is insufficient, and Mr. Tou's group is carrying food to Xi'An about 700 km away by car and disinfecting work. It means that he helped.
Mr. Tou said, "We have also experienced the blockade of the city and understand the feelings of the people of Xi'An, so we will do our best to support and give back. We hope that the spread of the infection will subside."
* The toe is rough for climbing.
Strict information control prison sentence
In Wuhan, when the city was closed, people who tried to convey local information were detained by the authorities, and strict information control was carried out.
Among them, Mr. Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist from Shanghai, (38) entered Wuhan, where the city was blocked, and reported on SNS the state of the citizens who are forced to live a difficult life, but disseminated false information. Was detained by the authorities.
Then, in December, the court sentenced him to four years in prison for "disturbing public order," and Mr. Zhang is still in prison.
Mr. Zhang's lawyer has accused him of being unjustified.
Also, according to lawyers, Mr. Zhang was weakened by a hunger strike in protest.
The US State Department and international human rights groups called on the Chinese government to release Mr. Zhang immediately last November.
Zhang's lawyer, who was in charge of Mr. Zhang's trial, said, "I hope she will be released as soon as possible and feel better, and I want many people to pay attention to this issue."
Regarding the spread of the infection in Wuhan, some have pointed out the delay in the initial action of the Xi Jinping leadership, and it can be seen that information control is trying to prevent the spread of critical opinions.
What is the latest situation in Xi'an?
In Xian, Shaanxi Province, inland China, the outbreak of the new coronavirus has spread, and local authorities took steps on December 23, last year, to severely restrict outings to all 13 million citizens.
On January 10, based on the fact that the number of infected people per day is decreasing, if conditions such as no infected people appearing for 14 days are met, going out restrictions will be imposed at the discretion of each district in the city. We announced that it can be lifted, but some are still restricted from going out.
Earlier this month, an eight-month-old woman who visited a hospital in the city because her negative PCR test had expired had to wait for about two hours outdoors and was stillborn. In some cases, a man with a heart condition died without proper medical examination.
When family members posted such cases on SNS, there was a great deal of criticism and the top health authorities in Xi'An apologized, and the hospital was suspended for three months.