Covid-19 | Conditions hard for residents in Xi’an partial lockdown

A mobile testing site in Xincheng District of Xi’an

Authorities in Xi’an say they can provide food, health care and other necessities for the residents under a now almost two-week-old partial lockdown.

But in social media posts and over the telephone, some citizens describe difficulties obtaining supplies and frustration with the economic impact on the giant city that is home to the famed ancient Terracotta Army, along with major industries. 

“Can’t leave the building and it’s getting more and more difficult to buy food online,” said one Xi’an resident, who posted on the social media platform Weibo under the name Mu Qingyuani Sayno.

Officials defend the measures as appropriate and necessary, and with the Beijing Winter Olympics just a month away, are under intense pressure to stem the outbreak. 

The Xi’an restrictions imposed Dec. 23 are some of the harshest since China in 2020 imposed a strict lockdown on more than 11 million people in and around the central city of Wuhan, after the coronavirus was first detected there in late 2019. The measures are an outgrowth of China’s “zero COVID-19” policy that includes widespread testing and mask mandates, credited by the government with preventing major outbreaks. 

With a population of 13 million, Xi’an has seen more than 1,600 cases in its latest surge of the delta variant that is less infectious than the newer omicron strain. China has reported a total of 102,841 cases and 4,636 deaths since the pandemic began. 

While those numbers are relatively small compared to the U.S. and other countries, they do show the persistence of the virus despite the strict measures taken by China. 

The Commerce Ministry last week said it had contacted nearby provinces to help ensure adequate supplies of everyday necessities for Xi’an. State media reports say at least some residents are receiving free grocery packages, including eggs, rice, green vegetables and either chicken or pork. Residents can also order online. 

That came after city authorities tightened restrictions that had allowed people to leave their homes every other day to buy necessities. Travel to and from the city has been suspended, although there are some exceptions and rules have been relaxed slightly in some districts that have few or no cases. 

A third round of mass testing has also been ordered, with the city capable of swabbing 10 million people in just seven hours and processing up to 3 millions results in just 12 hours, according to state media. 

While Wuhan’s health care system was overwhelmed after the pandemic began there in late 2019, China has not reported any shortages of beds or medical equipment and staff in Xi’an. 

Two dozen special teams have been formed to deal with COVID-19 cases and a pair of hospitals have been set aside to provide other types of care, the reports said. 

“Xi’an … is taking efficient and comprehensive measures to curb the spread of the latest COVID-19 resurgence and guarantee its normal function,” the official Xinhua News Agency said on Sunday. 

Zhang Canyou, an expert with the State Council’s epidemic prevention and control team, conceded that under the partial lockdown, “there may be supply pressure in communities.”

“The government will go all out to coordinate resources to provide people with daily necessities and medical services,” Zhang was quoted as saying by Xinhua. 

Chinese have overwhelmingly complied with lockdowns, mask mandates and other restrictions and most of the complaints from Xi’an residents involved difficulties obtaining supplies and other inconveniences. 

The head of a tourism firm reached by phone said yesterday that supplies were basically sufficient, but that his business had already been suffering since July. 

Outside Xi’an, China has adopted a range of anti-pandemic measures. The financial hub of Shanghai has taken more of a hands-off approach, receiving more than 5 million visitors during the three-day New Year holiday, according to local authorities. MDT/AP