COVID-19 | Anger grows over Shanghai lockdown amid food shortages, surge in cases

On Sunday, Shanghai reported a record of close to 25,000 COVID-19 cases, bringing the total in the current wave past 1,70,000.

Anger is growing among the residents of Shanghai as they face continuing shortages of food and medicine, with China’s financial centre on Sunday reporting a record rise in COVID-19 cases.

Most of Shanghai’s 26 million residents remained confined to their apartments for the past two weeks in a harsh lockdown aimed to curb the spread.

On Sunday, Shanghai reported a record of close to 25,000 cases, bringing the total in the current wave past 1,70,000.

Health authorities said most cases were mild, prompting many residents to question why they were being confined to their homes. The outbreak has paralysed the city’s supply chain and logistics with many now only relying on handouts of vegetables from the government to feed their families.

Many have taken to social media to complain about no access to medicines or hospital treatments because of the lockdown.  

Videos on social media this weekend showed residents in some communities leaving their apartments and taking to the street in protest, demanding food supplies.

“Fears of contagion, movement restrictions both in and outside Shanghai, and questions about who can take delivery jobs and what vehicles they can drive have left the city underserved,” news outlet Caixin reported, adding: “Some people stuck at home have benefited from government largess, posting pictures of impressive-looking hampers on social media. But for many residents, the only source of fresh food is now discount group-buying clubs, a pre-outbreak fixture where local community leaders contact suppliers, take orders and organise transport.”