Two months from now ,world will observe the third anniversary of unwanted arrival of Coronavirus pandemic ,which is closely linked to Bat Coronavirus, Pangolin Coronavirus and SARS- Cov. As is well known, the first positive case was detected on November 17 ,2019 in Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan town of Hebei province of China. Thanks to secrecy and language factors, the world came to know of this fatal disease only after a thousand deaths were made public in China.
2) The virus of zoonotic origin spreading very fast through airborne transmission has troubled the whole humanity in a way. Even after several scientific attempts as also visit of two high powered teams of WHO to the spot, exact cause of disease has not been established.Despite precautions taken by many countries, the disease went on spreading its tentacles. By April 14, 2022, over 500 million confirmed cases were reported and by 1st September, 2022, more than 6.49 million deaths had been attributed to this deadly pandemic. But WHO estimates have bluntly hinted that the mortality reports have been under reported by most of the countries.
3) This brings us to the question of very reliability of statistics divulged by China. Even at the peak of the pandemic during the first wave, barely 4,000 confirmed cases were reported by her. Given the vast size and population of the country, this disease may have been transmitted very fast through the respiratory route when human beings would inhale droplets and small invisible airborne particles.
4) By suppressing this vital data, China has gone ahead to advocate the Zero Covid strategy. It included measures, namely ,contact tracing, mass testing, border quarantine, lockdown and mitigation software to stop Community transmission . Behaviour of the individuals is reported to have changed in many cities when they got used to ‘Work From Home’ as opposed to normal seats in the factories, offices, farms or construction sites.
5) When non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as, face masks, hand hygiene, self quarantine and community focussed steps, such as, closing schools and work places, community gatherings etc did not show much impact, more drastic mechanism ,such as, Quarantining entire population, strict travel bans, Lock Downs ,containment zones etc were undertaken. Alongwith Australia and NewZealand, China seemed to have excelled in this regard.
Heavy fines would be imposed on those found breaking and violating instructions unlike in India. Incidentally, China had officially reported only 4634 deaths from 85,407 confirmed cases by second week of October,2020 when India was undergoing very painful second wave and in USA and parts of Europe, third wave had just begun.
CRIPPLING LOCKDOWN IN SANGHAI
6) In the recent past, Sanghai, China’s most advanced and biggest city of 24.89 millions, a global financial hub, situated on Huangpu river was severely inflicted by Covid -19 from March end to the beginning of June 2022.So much so, that the whole of Metro was kept under complete Lock Down for two months. Despite L.D. , cases resurfaced. Common man was becoming restless, frustrated and angry. Street fights of common man with municipal and health personnel were highlighted on social media and western media documentaries.
7) Owing to post traumatic stress disorders and alleged mismanagement of resurgence of pandemic, once people working in a huge shopping mall ,also having offices, began running helter skelter as they resisted undergoing another 48 hour L.D. Cries of “We want supplies, we don’t want to die” filled the air. Reporting of unusual jump of 3500 new infections on March 27 and further 6000 on April 2 prompted the Government to go for strictest ever L.D. in Chinese history. Harsh measures led to extreme anger and frustration. Soon after announcement, unusual rush was seen at many super markets. When limited number of goods appeared more expensive, people even went to the extent of snatching and grabbing. These incidents were never reported from any part of India during the toughest days of pandemic.
8) By April 9, a new record of 22,000 daily cases and 27 deaths was reported on social media. People who were opposed to new policy of social Zero Covid Strategy were not worried about getting Covid but were very much scared about forcible tests at under equipped test centers and compulsory Qurantine, thereafter. Apart from the megacity wearing a completely deserted look, the port of Sanghai saw hundreds of vessels waiting. Also labour shortage was seriously felt by many local and multinational companies as majority of them had begun departing. Harsh L.D. measures had hurt millions of workmen. Plight of migrant labour was worst as they were left out of state supplied rations. In India, it was other way round and free ration scheme has been again extended. Small and medium enterprises were hardest hit in China as also in India.
9) In the middle of May 2022, when certain relaxations were announced all of a sudden, common man got a surprise as a 72 hour negative certificate became mandatory for entering public places. Outside railway stations, however, long ques of people including foreigners, deserting the city had become a common feature. People could feel a sigh of relief after two month long L.D. was finally lifted on June 1 and on June 25, the Communist Party Government announced success of its” latest” Anti Covid policy. President Xi Jinping was of the opinion that ” China had a will to do it” even in a situation of scarcity of food as well as medicines, as reflected through the social media. Interestingly, now report about 13,000 deaths resulting from Covid has been divulged by the country.
SHUTTING DOWN OF WORLD’S LARGEST ELECTRONIC MARKET
10) During July and August, it was relatively quiet on Covid front in China. But things were brewing up in Shenzhen, China’s southern city towards the end of August. World’s largest electronics market at Huaquiangbei had to be shut down due to fresh outbreak of Covid-19. Three buildings having thousands of stalls specialising in sale of microchips ,telephone parts and other vital components were declared closed for a couple of days. Further, 24 Subway Stations, cinemas, bars and parks in the Central Districts of Futian and Luohu were also shut down. Large public events were also cancelled.
11)As such,for entering public places and offices, proof of a Covid negative test ahead of 48 hours was needed when the cities would go for week long L.D. Shockingly, an urban village accommodation meant for thousands of drivers and workers was also sealed off as a Covid Prevention measure. According to National Health Commission of China, it had reported 1696 new Covid infections on August 28 ,though majority of them were asymptomatic. Resultantly, China’s Growth Estimates were downgraded to 3.5 % for the year 2022.
LOCKDOWN IN CHENGDU, CAPITAL OF SICHUAN PROVINCE
12) On 1st of September, 2022, 21.2 million citizens of Chengdu were put under L.D. at the end of city wide Covid Testing. It is the largest city undergoing L.D. after Sanghai. According to the authorities, idea was to contain spike in number of Omicron driven Covid-19 cases, said to have spread from swimming pool of a Gym and a Water Park. The city had reported 106 new cases in high and medium risk areas. However, one person from each household was allowed to go out once a day to buy daily supplies by holding a “negative nucleic acid” card certificate valid for 24 hours.
13) It has also been gathered that millions of the Chinese have been subjected to Covid-19 containment restrictions in the cities, such as, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and the port city of Dalian. As if resurgence of Covid was not enough, life of average Chinese has been threatened by drought conditions for several months and recently happened Earth quake which has claimed one hundred or more lives, thus far.
14) To conclude, after getting re elected during the 20th National Congress of the CCP on October 16, one hopes that better sense would prevail over President Xi Jiang and more human welfare oriented measures are considered for Covid prevention and control in the PRC. By remaining isolated, any human race may survive but life may not be meaningful for the neglected and underprivileged low paid work force.
About the Author : Dr. Aaloc Srivastav, Ex CS , Sikkim is a Senior Retd Bureaucrat and passionate about writing on his favourite subjects . The views shared by the author are his personal.
