In Beijing, Covid transport curbs are making it hard to get to hospital
- Taxi and ride-hailing services have been suspended in some districts
- Anxiety is growing as residents struggle to access medical care
The city government on Wednesday announced that parts of Chaoyang, Fangshan and Shunyi districts – where there have been cases of the virus – would be subject to tighter curbs, including taxis and ride-hailing services being suspended in those areas.
“As soon as I read that news, I panicked,” said Chaoyang resident Cara Hu, whose mother needs dialysis at a Beijing hospital three times a week. The treatment removes waste from her blood – keeping her alive until she can get a kidney transplant.
But Hu says she has struggled to find a way to get her mother to hospital. Ride-hailing apps are no longer functioning in her area – they just show a notice saying the service has been suspended “in accordance with regulations and Covid measures”.
She sought help from neighbourhood workers, but her request was turned down. One of them, quoting their supervisors, told Hu she would need to sort out the problem herself and keep “the big picture” in mind.