Covid-19 in China: after the lifting of restrictions, the surge in infections
In China, the results of the Covid tests are showing some delays.
Here in Beijing, December 8, 2022. AP - Andy Wong
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
With the relaxation of health measures in China and the outbreak of infections, it is now difficult to read the official figures, especially as the results of the Covid tests are struggling to come out.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Beijing,
Stéphane Lagarde
, with
Louise May
,
from the Beijing office
"
Beijing is open!"
“Launches this tester agent, white jumpsuit, gloves and visor.
Like many here, he is a little lost in the face of this general shift in health policy in less than 72 hours, which recalls the decision to close the Chinese borders overnight on March 28, 2020.
The
removal of controls and restrictions
has led to a jump in contamination.
Result: the results of the PCR tests at this still open screening station in the Chinese capital are coming in drop by drop.
“
I don't know exactly why, but the results are late.
It's because of the labs.
There are too many positive cases, they can no longer meet the demand and it is very slow
, ”says the agent.
According
to the Hebei newspaper
, a province neighboring the capital, responses to Covid tests would be slowed down due to the high inflation of positive tubes during collective tests and Covid zero soldiers in full suits, tired and no longer numerous enough to go and test. , door-to-door, the presumed infected.
“
No one can escape the two red bars in Baoding
”
If this makes reading the figures difficult, this does not prevent humor on social networks: “
If you do not know a single positive case, you must review your social attitude
”.
Or: "
No one can escape the two red bars in Baoding
", notes a user quoted by the sinologist Maya Koetse.
The city, located 150 kilometers southwest of Beijing, is completely red on the infection map.
“
The average temperature today was 38.8 degrees
,” another commenter wrote, alluding to Covid fever.
About Baoding: "9 new cases in Baoding yesterday? In my family alone there are 12 cases already" and: "The lowest temperature in Baoding today is minus 2 degrees, and the average temperature is 38.8 degrees [fever]."
"Nobody in Baoding can escape the two bars!"
pic.twitter.com/E49jnwoBEa
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) December 8, 2022
“
Be responsible for your health
”, say the official slogans very seriously this time.
The residence or neighborhood committees, hitherto on alert for the slightest case of contamination, now respond to those who test positive that they must fend for themselves at home and prevent emergencies if the symptoms become serious.
Fortunately, there are videos on social networks that offer instructions for using the Covid at home: how to do your self-test and self-quarantine?
If it's negative, this young computer programmer only dreams of one thing.
“
All I want is to go home to my province.
But I'm afraid that everything will close when I come back.
With the increase in cases, the policy is not stable.
Today, they say: "We open!"
But tomorrow, if we go back, it will be very difficult for me.
»
The fear of the sanitary yoyo and the "stop and go" is shared by some of the travelers now authorized to take the train without having to present a negative Covid test.
Closings could indeed occur, if the health system found itself in a few weeks overwhelmed by the strongest epidemic wave that China has experienced since the start of the pandemic.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
China
Coronavirus
Health and medicine