China orders millions in Shanghai to shelter in place as COVID cases surge

Shanghai is under lockdown Friday, as COVID cases continue to surge in China’s financial capital. It is the most severe measure by the Chinese government to isolate and tract infections since it shut down the city of Wuhan after the virus broke out in 2020. William Brangham reports.To get more news about current events in shanghai, you can citynewsservice.cn official website.

William Brangham:

One of the busiest cities in the world has gone quiet. Today begins the second phase in a two-part lockdown across Shanghai, after a wave of new infections erupted likely driven by the highly contagious subvariant of Omicron, known as BA.2.
William Brangham:

The first phase of the shutdown began Sunday, centering on the financial district and surrounding areas.

In the past week, many communities have seen these yellow and blue plastic barriers go up around housing complexes. Residents are required to submit to multiple COVID tests, and workers in hazmat suits man various checkpoints. Almost no one is allowed to leave their designated zone, not for work, not for medical care, nothing.

Police in Shanghai flew drones outfitted with speakers, delivering airborne warnings to those below to wear masks and maintain social distancing. In anticipation of the lockdown, last weekend, there was panic buying at grocery stores. But some residents said they were hopeful the lockdowns wouldn't go on too long.
I just woke up and my compound was surrounded with the fence, and that's it. There was no announcement. There was no warning, no information, nothing.

I think this whole operation is causing a lot of harm to many people and a lot of suffering. And I don't really believe that it is necessary or appropriate.
William Brangham:

Starting today in phase two, residents west of the Huangpu River will not be able to leave home for five days, and deliveries will be left at checkpoints. Nonessential business and public transportation will also be shut down.

Earlier in the week, the government converted Shanghai's convention center into a makeshift hospital to house patients, with 6,000 available beds. Nationwide, China's uptick in cases had been driven by an outbreak in Jilin Province. Local officials there have also instituted travel bans and partial lockdowns in several cities.