Coronavirus China: expats in Shanghai ‘stunned’ as lockdown sends ‘floods’ of people scrambling for supplies

Foreign residents in Shanghai were caught off guard after authorities announced a large-scale lockdown to contain a growing coronavirus outbreak on Sunday

China is sticking to its zero-Covid policy and expats in the financial hub have mixed views on the hardline strategy, with some saying it is ‘not sustainable’

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Shanghai authorities ordered a snap lockdown covering different parts of the city across eight days, catching many expats off guard. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:00am, 30 Mar 2022Updated: 3:00pm, 31 Mar 2022

Foreign residents in Shanghai have described supermarkets “flooded with people” and a sense of growing frustration after authorities in the financial hub abruptly announced a large-scale lockdown to contain a coronavirus outbreak.

The city, which is home to more than 10,000 international companies, has seen infections surge from a few hundred to nearly 11,500 since March 1, as a wave of Omicron cases sweeps China, testing the limits of the country’s zero-Covid policy and putting pressure on the economy.

Late on Sunday, Shanghai authorities ordered a snap lockdown covering different parts of the city across eight days, catching many expats off guard.

“We were allowed by the compound managers to go out late that night to buy food,” said Cameron Wilson, a communications professional from Britain who has lived in Shanghai for more than 10 years.

All the supermarkets I visit are flooded with people, food is being grabbed and even fought for

Safa Khalid

“The part of Shanghai where I live is normally very quiet. It’s really stunning to see so many people on the streets close to midnight to shop. It was very bizarre.”

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