COVID Zero Guide: 3 new infections means immediate lockdowns, 500 flights cancelled, schools closed, in Shanghai

China — China cracked down hard over three new Covid-19 infections in Shanghai, closing schools, suspending tourism activities, cancelling more than 500 flights, and temporarily stopping emergency and outpatient services in 20 hospitals as well as locking down a number of residential areas.

It may seem excessive, but Shanghai’s response to new cases is a picture of what China’s Covid zero approach to managing the pandemic looks like.

The three people infected with Covid were friends from Suzhou city, all of whom were vaccinated, who had gone to a lecture two weeks ago, bringing them in close proximity to around 200 others, a statement from the Municipal Health Commission said. 

The detection of the infections led to 20 hospitals temporarily stopping outpatient and emergency medical services for three days as a precautionary measure.

After news of the new infections was reported on Nov 26, local media outlet Jiemian News reported that about 30 per cent of flights from Shanghai’s two major airports—estimated to be over 500—were cancelled.

Travel agencies were also directed to put a halt to travel programs to other provinces, as well as all city tours.

A number of residential compounds perceived to be at a higher risk of infection were put under lockdown.

Mass testing operations were carried out, and as of Nov 28 (Sunday), no new infections were detected.

This is how Beijing’s Covid zero policy is carried out, affecting the lives of Shanghai’s 24.9 million residents because of three infections. Throughout the pandemic, China has moved swiftly and decisively via lockdowns and restrictions in the hopes of eradicating the virus completely.

At a press briefing on Nov 25, the head of Shanghai’s pandemic prevention task force, Zhang Wenhong, said, “China has accumulated lots of epidemic prevention experience in ‘dynamic COVID-zero’ so our strategy won’t change. 

In the future, this will become a normalized epidemic prevention scene in the autumn and winter. Similar situations will happen in the future.”

This is not the first time the city has taken drastic action. On Oct 31, one person infected with Covid was detected at Shanghai Disneyland, causing the park to shut down completely while thousands of guests were still inside.

Over 30,000 people who were at the park at the time the infection was detected were tested for Covid before being allowed to go home./ TISG

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