As health officials begin to fence in residents in Shanghai, panic buying hits Beijing

We’ve reached the stage of the lockdown in Shanghai where health officials are now literally fencing in blocks and individual buildings to keep people locked inside over Covid:

Shanghai fences up COVID-hit areas, fuelling fresh outcry https://t.co/WhQCvZCJ6R pic.twitter.com/yAvFIoKOub

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 24, 2022

It’s like they’ve turned the entire city into a prison:

Many of Shanghai's 26 million people have been forced to stay at home under China's zero-COVID policy, with fences up to two metres high being erected around housing blocks and some streets being closed off entirely https://t.co/KnNTxSQ5UJ

— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 24, 2022

Or a zoo:

COVID patients feel like 'animals' in Shanghai where fences restrain sick residents https://t.co/S4AUfjKeaW pic.twitter.com/d62fASuTQM

— New York Post (@nypost) April 24, 2022

Jared Nelson, an American businessman living in Shanghai, reports that “friends in several areas reported new cases in apartment buildings and communities that have been under strict lockdown for weeks.”

So, the lockdown is draconian and ineffective? Good to know:

Day 35 of our Shanghai Covid lockdown

Unbelievably, the newly identified Covid cases in Shanghai increased yesterday

Adding to that trend, friends in several areas reported new cases in apartment buildings and communities that have been under strict lockdown for weeks https://t.co/cAAuKZHq84

— Jared T Nelson (@JaredTNelson) April 23, 2022

This is insane:

35 days of Covid lockdown in Shanghai with countless consecutive negative tests

Still not allowed to leave our front door

Still frustrated by food and water deliveries not returning to normal

Still with no idea of when this will end

Still very angry

— Jared T Nelson (@JaredTNelson) April 23, 2022

Only 62% of Shanghai residents aged 60 and above got 2 shots. Only 15% for the 800,000 ppl at 80+. Unprotected elderlies are more likely to die, and China's is pushing for more shots. Except in Shanghai, most, if not all, vaccination sites are closed, while Covid tests nonstop.

— FAN Wenxin (@xinwenfan) April 24, 2022

So, they’ve closed the vaccination sites but they are “distributing traditional Chinese medicine,” which is as insane as it sounds:

😷 Hong Kong and Shanghai have been distributing traditional Chinese medicine as the cities battle #Covid19 outbreaks.

Here’s a look at its effectiveness as China tries to win global acceptance for traditional cureshttps://t.co/XXtOEYxcnr

— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) April 25, 2022

Panic buying has spread to Beijing with resident there thinking they’re next to get the lockdown treatment:

Authorities in Shanghai have started fencing off areas were residents are suspected of having Covid and fears that similar measures will shortly be taken in Beijing have prompted panic buying. https://t.co/CXfOM5Sh3y

— Toby Young (@toadmeister) April 24, 2022

That’s not enough food if the lockdown in Beijing lasts as long as in Shanghai. Load up!

#Beijing locals lined up at supermarkets to stock up on essential supplies on Monday, amid fears that Beijing could become the next megapolis after #Shanghai to lock down to contain the spread of #coronavirus.#china #lockdown #CoronaVirusUpdates #pandemic #covid19 pic.twitter.com/HtHpXNrIIF

— Ruptly (@Ruptly) April 25, 2022

Load up if you can, we should add:

#Beijing has ordered mass testing in certain areas & targeted curbs on gatherings after few dozens #Covid19 cases over the past week. Residents of my district – #Chaoyang – will have 3 tests on May 25, 27 & 29. The city saw a bit of a panic buying amid fears of limited #lockdown. pic.twitter.com/bI34hUSDkw

— Abhishek G. Bhaya अभिषेक অভিষেক ابھیشک 加冕礼 (@abhishekbhaya) April 24, 2022