China has once again been reporting an increase in the COVID-19 infection. On Thursday, a total of 31, 454 cases were recorded, which is the highest during the pandemic. Prior to this, the highest number was 28, 000, recorded in April this year only. As per the data from the National Health Bureau, the average daily number of COVID-19 cases in China, after the pandemic hit, has reached a record high. In the meanwhile, in the name of a lockdown, the Chinese administration has imprisoned the 6.6 million people of Zhengzhou and 8 districts near it.
From even prior to this order, a population of 2 lakhs in this region is under a lockdown for the last 1.5 months. The new order has been implemented on Friday. The Iphone city is also a part of the shutdown region, where, just two days ago, a rebellion had broken out because of the isolation rules and poor working conditions. The workers had not only protested, but had also fought the Chinese police. Waves of rebellion were also seen among other factory workers apart from those in the Apple factory.
The Zhengzhou officers tried to curb the rebellion by issuing orders of testing people for the infection on a large scale in the Iphone city and the nearby places as well. The orders have also stated that people cannot leave their areas until they have a ‘Corona negative’ report and the permission of the local officers. People are not even allowed to leave their homes.
The recent hike in the COVID-19 cases has created a critical time for China, because the political leaders have to decide whether the virus infection should be tolerated so that herd immunity can be achieved, or should strict prohibitions be imposed at the cost of the economy.
There is stability in the number of cases till a large extent in important cities from Beijing to Chongqing and Guangzhou, because the infection is limited to spreading in apartments, office buildings, and shopping centres. Cities are, once again, increasing their testing rates, and at the same time, the work to construct make-shift hospitals has been paced up.
