Beijing 30 August : Discontent against the Chinese government’s zero-Covid policy has grown in the past few days, with protests over restrictions in the southwest city of Chongqing as well as calls from Beijing-based think tank for changes to the policy of targeted lockdowns as well as ongoing mandatory mass testing, news reports claimed.Hundreds of people gathered in protest at the residential compound in Chongqing’s Shapingba neighborhood on Saturday night with protesters expressing their displeasure that the lockdown remained in place even though not one single case of Covid-19 being found for a period of 10 days, RFA reported.
Local officials finally lifted the restrictions following the hundreds of people were gathered in Fangcao in front of roadblocks that hindered the flow of traffic in and out of their zone.
The video footage shared on social networks showed police positioned at the scene with the residents waiting in the middle of the road, arguing with the police and officials positioned in an unison to manage them, RFA reported.
“Lots of people are kicking up an uproar.The SWAT team is on the scene,” one resident said in video footage and added, “The government won’t ease the lockdown that affects more than a thousand households.”
Local residents, who provided only the name Liu and said that no one has been positive for HIV in the community in just 10 days yet thousands of people remain in their houses, RFA reported.
“The residents gathered at the Fangcao traffic circle in Lianfang Street, demanding that the restrictions be lifted.The government has listened to the demands of the residents and has promised that they will lift the restrictions.” Liu said.
But that’s not the final word of the story, she said, adding that she does not reside in the building but is located close by.
“There are zero positives in the entire street, however the lockdown hasn’t been lifted, and there’s been no protests,” Liu said.
The Chongqing Municipal Health Commission said on Monday that the city had added 10 local confirmed cases as well as 18 local asymptomatic illnesses the previous day five of which were in Shapingba.
.
