Chinese city of Shenzhen adapts to ‘slow life’ during Covid-19 lockdown
- The city of 17 million has embarked on a mass testing drive and imposed varying restrictions of people’s movements, but it insists life is not on ‘pause’
- The authorities are sending people door-to-door to ensure all are tested while arranging online lectures, free e-books – and even dating groups for singles
Shenzhen health authorities announced 55 new confirmed cases and 37 asymptomatic cases on Wednesday, as it entered the third day of lockdown, which authorities have described as “slow life” rather than a “pause”, calling on citizens to cooperate and keep social activities to a minimum.
Huang Qiang, deputy secretary general of the city government, told a press conference Wednesday morning there is currently a high risk of community spread.
“The number of positive cases is likely to increase,” he said. “We are at the most urgent point since the outbreak started, we have to prepare for a long and hard battle.”
To achieve what China calls “dynamic zero-Covid”, Huang said Shenzhen will place high emphasis on citywide testing, sending medical staff on door-to-door visits to homes, businesses and factories to ensure no one in the city of 17 million slips through the net.
A local surnamed Liu who lives in Shatou, an area close to the Huanggang checkpoint on the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border, said community staff have been coming to his door to carry out tests every day.
