Almost spared by the coronavirus for two years, China has been facing an increase in cases since March, unprecedented since 2020 in its magnitude and which is affecting many provinces to varying degrees.

Shanghai, confined, is the most affected city for the moment, with dozens of new daily deaths.

The capital Beijing has already confined around 150 buildings after a hundred positive cases in one week.

In line with its zero Covid strategy, China is responding to this outbreak with lockdowns, travel restrictions and the isolation of people who test positive in quarantine centres.

But the Omicron variant, which is particularly contagious, puts this health policy to the test.

The metropolis of Guangzhou, a major manufacturing and commercial center, announced Thursday the screening of around a third of its 19 million inhabitants after an "abnormal" result of a Covid test carried out at the airport.

The majority of the day's flights have been cancelled.

The large city of Hangzhou, near Shanghai, on Wednesday evening called on nine of its 12 million residents to get tested every 48 hours if they want to continue to have access to public spaces and public transport.

An initiative that follows the discovery of dozens of positive cases.

The Chinese Ministry of Health reported more than 11,000 new positive cases nationwide on Thursday.

The restrictive measures will have serious repercussions on tourism during the May 1 holidays, which begin this Saturday and are generally the occasion for the Chinese to go on vacation.

They are expected to make about 100 million trips to China during these five days, a decrease of 62% compared to 2021, Zhou Min, a senior official with the Ministry of Transport, told reporters on Thursday.

"Disappointed? Not too much, because it's something that concerns the whole country, not just our little person."

Reflux in Shanghai

In confined Shanghai, many of the 25 million inhabitants complain of difficulties in accessing food and fear being placed in collective quarantine centers, with haphazard hygiene and comfort.

But the confinement seems to be slowly bearing fruit: the Ministry of Health has identified 10,622 new positive cases there – the lowest total since the beginning of April.

Residents of a confined neighborhood, in protective gowns, prepare to board a bus on April 24, 2022 in Shanghai Hector RETAMAL AFP / Archives

Some residents have been able to go out on the streets in recent days.

In Beijing, 50 new positive cases were announced on Thursday.

This is a stabilization compared to the previous days.

The capital this week launched a screening campaign for almost all of its 22 million inhabitants.

Additional buildings were confined on Thursday, but currently represent a very small part of the population.

The Beijingers, however, live in the apprehension of generalized confinement.

Exhibitions, shows and wedding ceremonies have been cancelled.

Gyms have also closed.

But restaurants and shops remain open.

The town hall called on residents not to leave the capital unless absolutely necessary.

© 2022 AFP