China's economic capital is facing its biggest surge of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.

To deal with this, the authorities are confining almost all of the 25 million inhabitants to their homes.

But the measure has led to logistical hiccups, with some Shanghainese struggling to get food supplies.

Another controversial measure: people who test positive for the coronavirus, even asymptomatic, are placed in solitary confinement in improvised quarantine centers - with sometimes rudimentary comfort and hygiene.

It is in this context that Washington "ordered" the departure from Shanghai of its non-essential personnel "due to the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic", a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. United States Embassy.

The number of people affected by this decision is not known and it was not immediately clear whether a departure from Shanghai meant an exit from Chinese territory.

The embassy said American diplomats informed Chinese authorities "of their concerns for the safety and well-being of American citizens".

"Arbitrary"

The Ministry of Health reported more than 23,000 new positive cases in Shanghai on Tuesday.

Very high figures for China, one of the last countries in the world to apply a zero Covid strategy.

This consists of several measures: confinement as soon as a few cases appear, separation of people who test positive from the rest of the population, visas issued in dribs and drabs, quarantine on arrival in the territory or even tracing of movements.

Staff in protective suits against Covid-19 organize the delivery of food to residents of a confined neighborhood on April 10, 2022 in Shanghai Hector RETAMAL AFP

Most Shanghai residents were still confined on Tuesday, although residents of some "low-risk" neighborhoods were able to leave their homes, provided no new cases were detected in their area.

Last week, the US Embassy had already "allowed" non-essential consulate employees to leave the city.

She judged that American citizens risked being faced with an "arbitrary application" of anti-Covid restrictions.

In reaction, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Lijian, had accused Washington on Saturday of “baseless accusations”.

Health personnel in protective suits against Covid-19 in a street in a confined district of Shanghai, April 8, 2022 Hector RETAMAL AFP / Archives

"It should be emphasized that China's epidemic control policy is scientific and effective," he said, adding that China had filed "solemn protests" with the United States.

The US decision to withdraw non-essential staff from the Shanghai consulate also comes amid ongoing diplomatic, economic and military rivalry between Beijing and Washington.

Exhibition centers

The epidemic in Shanghai surprised its inhabitants, convinced that no epidemic outbreak of magnitude could arrive in the most developed city in the country.

In order to ensure the isolation of those who tested positive from the rest of the population, the authorities have installed tens of thousands of beds in exhibition centers or prefabricated structures.

A reception structure for people who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 7, 2022 in Shanghai STR AFP / Archives

On the internet, many residents complain of having difficulty getting food delivered, in particular because of a lack of people to deliver the products.

Unverified videos of dogs beaten to death because suspected of being able to transmit the virus have also caused an outcry on social networks.

After criticism, however, authorities relaxed a controversial policy of separating coronavirus-positive children from parents who tested negative.

Children under 7 can now be accompanied.

Faced with demand, the main online delivery platforms for meals and fresh products have also declared that they will strengthen their stocks and recruit thousands of additional deliverers.

© 2022 AFP