Explainer | Which Chinese Covid controls are fuelling public anger?
- Protests broke out around the country last weekend in the latest sign of growing discontent over the country’s strict controls
- The restrictions – which range from the highly inconvenient to the potentially dangerous – are taking a growing toll on the public
With cases surging, driven by highly infectious strains of Omicron, and lockdowns and other stringent controls taking an increasing toll on people’s livelihoods and well-being, here are some of the elements of the zero-Covid policy that are the main focus of discontent – and some of the measures taken to address these complaints.
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Protests flare across China over zero-Covid, lockdowns after deadly Urumqi fire
People being barricaded inside their homes
Although the local authorities denied that Covid restrictions were to blame for the deaths, video clips showing fire engines being stuck in narrow lanes next to barricades fuelled public anger.
Photos and videos shared on social media have previously shown residents in different parts of the country, including Hebei, Shanghai and Guangdong, being locked inside their homes or residential compounds by wires, iron bolts or steel barriers despite the obvious risk in the event of a fire.