China’s Covid-19 wave spurs tighter controls despite Beijing’s calls for ‘targeted’ measures

Local governments reintroduce mass testing and travel restrictions as cases surge in Beijing, Guangdong and Chongqing

Latest outbreak comes at critical moment as central government tries to reduce devastating social and economic impact of strict pandemic rules

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Covid-19 cases in Beijing exceeded 1,000 for the second day in a row on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:30pm, 23 Nov 2022

China’s growing Covid-19 wave has spurred local governments to reintroduce strict control measures despite calls by Beijing for more targeted measures to relieve the burden on the public and economy.

On Wednesday, China reported 2,641 local confirmed cases and 26,242 asymptomatic infections, with outbreaks in the southern province of Guangdong, Chongqing municipality in the southwest and capital city Beijing.

The surge comes at a critical moment as China tries to reduce the devastating social and economic impact of Covid-19 control measures.

Earlier this month, China’s cabinet, the State Council, announced a 20-point plan to ease restrictions, including reducing the quarantine period and scrapping mass testing when the risk of transmission is low. Local authorities were urged to enforce the new playbook while also containing outbreaks.

Authorities have yet to impose hard lockdowns like the one seen in Shanghai in the spring, but some have resorted to tightened controls to contain outbreaks.

Starting on Thursday, Beijing will require negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results issued within 48 hours before entering airports, office buildings, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and public transport.

Earlier restrictions did not quell the outbreak as the capital reported more than 1,000 cases for the second day in a row on Wednesday, with 388 local cases and 1,098 asymptomatic infections.