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China’s zero-Covid policy comes under fire, but experts don’t expect big changes any time soon
- Social media post questioning basis for epidemic-control restrictions goes viral
- Sporadic protests seen in streets of cities across country as dissatisfaction mounts
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An anonymous article that asked 10 questions of the National Health Commission about China’s response to Covid-19 created a stir on Chinese social media late on Tuesday.
Days later, residents in various parts of China took to the streets against the stringent zero-Covid measures such as prolonged lockdowns and the sealing of homes.
On Friday night, people in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, demonstrated in front of government buildings a day after a fire in a block of flats killed 10 residents.
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Even though the authorities said the building was in a low-risk area, many questioned whether the casualties were due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Videos posted on social media platforms showed people marching in the streets, singing the national anthem, waving the national flag and shouting “lift the lockdown!” The city has been under lockdown for more than 100 days.
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Urumqi authorities said on Saturday the city would lift coronavirus restrictions “in phases” after the protest footage surfaced online.
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