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Beijing COVID spike prompts mass testing, panic buying

33 Comments
By Beiyi SEOW

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Could it be that their Sinovac/pharm vaccines are not as reliable as they first made out, but that they do not want this possibility mentioned publicly? That might explain the draconian measures including lockdown and press clampdown.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

If they ever find a few infected that will become the real mess and Shanghai lockdown measures are a friendly kindergarten in comparison then. Beijing with Xi and all his cronies surely don’t want to become infected or die from Covid. Before of that they rather sacrifice any other big cities or areas.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Under its zero-COVID strategy, China has imposed lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions to try and stamp out all infections.

Still, in comparison to the rest of the world, the proportionate number of Covid infections and related deaths are still much much lower in China.

Australia and New Zealand saw the number of infections and related deaths deaths increase 100% after those countries eased their restrictions, as reported by those governments' statistics.

China will end up with fewer Covid deaths (regardless how defined) than, for example, the US, with its much smaller population,

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

If they continue this strategy then they will have to keep locking down and keeping closed borders for ever which for the rest of the world might not be a bad thing.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Fine with me if they permanently seal themselves up.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

@painkiller: And you believe what the Chinese Government/Media reports? Please tell me your post was sarcastic?

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

China reaps what it sows.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Who knows what to trust anymore. If it’s so dire, as it may well be, why weren’t the staggering food queue photos used with headline instead? - We see a woman AFP depicts here as “panic buying” about 60 eggs and 10 rolls of toilet paper while another man casually sits on the filthy curb, mask under his jaw, enjoying a smoke and some shoulder-to-shoulder, public conversation.

- “Photo caption: “Beijing residents were seen purchasing essentials in large quantities after a mass testing order sparked fears of a COVID lockdown on Monday.  Photo: AFP

0 ( +7 / -7 )

nandakandamandaToday 03:15 pm JST

Could it be that their Sinovac/pharm vaccines are not as reliable as they first made out,

China did admit that their vaccine is only 50% effective.

I wonder what vaccine the elite of China communist party used ?

The people in the ques are not staying 2 meters apart. I wonder how long the ques would be if they did ?

If there is any infected in the ques, the virus could spread faster, further and not be detected till the next testing day. Which would be followed by mass lockdowns.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It would be great to get some factual analysis. For instance, I have read reports that the Chinese vaccines are far less reliable than the ones used in the West. On the other hand, policies used in places like China, Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have resulted in far fewer deaths per unit of population than in the US, with its politically motivated disinformation campaigns and super spreader political rallies.

Perhaps of paramount importance, if true, are reports that a large proportion of the elderly in China have been refusing to get vaccinated. In contrast, according to the New York Times, more than 90% of those over 65 in the USA are fully vaccinated, and more than 70% of those over 5 years old are fully vaccinated.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

China have done everything wrong from the beginning, not only allowed the pandemic to happen because of their mismanagement, they have also put a brake to their economy with an outdated method to control the infection, lousy vaccines that are rejected by the main people that should be vaccinated the most and by thinking that hiding deaths systematically could go unnoticed.

Sorry for the people of the country, but as long as they keep supporting their corrupt government the tragedy of Hong Kong is going to be repeated endlessly.

Just hope this will not cause a new variant to spread around the world.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I dislike people from China, but I think the vaccines are sound but just older. The newer vaccines are capable of dealing with newer variants.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

China has the lowest death rate per population of Covid in the world, unlike America has 1 million people died, India more than half a milion people died and the European Union close to half a million died.

This is due to the strict discipline and public cooperation to achieve such an awesome result. Chinese is right from the begining to mobilize the entire society to work together like a team under the absolute power of a strong leadership. Nothing is more important than saving lives.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

China has the lowest death rate per population of Covid in the world.

That is demonstrably wrong, other countries have lower death rates, just by including Hong Kong (its death rates is not even in the top 100).

This is due to the strict discipline and public cooperation to achieve such an awesome result.

According to the information that was available from Hong Kong, and the reports from Shanghai and other territories this is due to hiding COVID deaths systematically by magicking death patients into negative status and not counting as a death anybody that has any kind of preexisting condition, this would be enough to decrease the death rates of every other country 10 to 20 times (specially with Omicron) but it is obviously an invalid way to do it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Confucianism at its best!!!

Officials say this policy has helped the country avoid the public health crises seen elsewhere in the world during the pandemic, but the approach has taken a heavy toll on businesses and public morale. The only health crisis where people are on total lock down and skydiving from high rises have been reported in China and the government thinks they are doing a great job. If they get past the pandemic they should go straight to rehab because the isolation is going to cause a lot of mental health problems.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

virusrexToday  09:18 pm JST

That is demonstrably wrong, other countries have lower death rates, just by including Hong Kong (its death rates is not even in the top 100).

Wrong.

Fact.

According to the information that was available from Hong Kong, and the reports from Shanghai and other territories this is due to hiding COVID deaths systematically by magicking death patients into negative status and not counting as a death anybody that has any kind of preexisting condition, this would be enough to decrease the death rates of every other country 10 to 20 times (specially with Omicron) but it is obviously an invalid way to do it.

This article is about Beijing.

Regardless, you are mistaken to misinterpret the statistics and once again provide a false conclusion.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

China is last in deaths per 1 million people.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

For a death in China to be recorded as one caused by Covid-19 it has to be the sole cause of death. If there is any kind of pre-existing health problem or other contributory factors the death is not shown as being caused by Covid-19. By comparison in the US a death where Covid-19 was a contributing factor would be attributed to Covid-19. Also in the early days of the pandemic a great many Chinese died of Covid-19 in their homes and their deaths never attributed to Covid-19.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Chinese people need to get out of the cities before they become large prisons run by the army.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Chinese people aren't dumb. They saw what happened in Shanghai and expect to be treated the same in Beijing. That means being locked in for 3+ weeks. If I thought I'd be locked in for 3 weeks, I'd stock up on food too.

Chinese people need to get out of the cities before they become large prisons run by the army.

Chinese people in the country are treated much worse. I know, hard to believe, but the local councils have absolute power.

China is last in deaths per 1 million people.

That's because in China, if you stub your toe, then get covid and die, they blame the death on blood loss from the toe. /s Anything except covid, because that is what the CCP political leaders have demanded.

Elsewhere, covid gets ticked on the contributing cause of death boxes, because covid funding is flowing now and the more cases that can make the claim will get more govt funding. Both ways of counting have issues. One vastly under count and the other over counts. In societies where the press is free to do research and publish their findings, we have a better chance for getting closer to the actual truth than in societies where saying anything that isn't 100% agreement with the govt gets you jailed or disappeared.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

https://youtu.be/kBaxTxdARZg is a reminder for Beijing - this could come your way.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Guess who is having a competing international health forum this week!

Today from the CGTN:

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called on countries across the world to put aside differences, be united and jointly build a global community of health for all. 

Wang made the remarks when delivering a speech at the International Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of Artemisinin and on Building a Global Community of Health for All in Beijing.

+++

Wang called for continuous efforts to eliminate malaria and other major infectious diseases and global solidarity to defeat COVID-19. He also called on the international community to improve the global health governance system.

China calls for solidarity to build global community of health for all; Updated 22:33, 25-Apr-2022.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-04-25/China-calls-for-solidarity-to-build-global-community-of-health-for-all-19wv8GUv74A/index.html

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wrong.

Fact.

Your own source puts China not even in the top ten, and that is before adding the numbers of Hong Kong, thank you for proving this supposed fact is actually false. China do not have the lowest death rates in the world, not even with the huge effort to count only a small fraction of the deaths and hiding an unknown number by making people negative to the infection after they die.

This article is about Beijing.

Yes, Beijing is the last reported failure of the policy, not only to the international community but also to the chinese people, as described in the article clearly.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Here is the daily Covid-19 report from Shanghai (Shine.cn) for this past Sunday,

underlying conditions???

Shanghai reported 51 COVID-19 deaths on Sunday – one-third more than Saturday – bringing the total since the resurgence commenced in March to 138.

The average age of Sunday's fatalities was 84.2, and the oldest was 100. All had severe underlying conditions, and only four had been vaccinated.

Among Shanghai's COVID-19 patients, 196 have severe symptoms and 23 are in critical condition, a 20 percent increase over the previous day.

Meanwhile, a total of 21,972 COVID-19 patients were discharged from local designated and makeshift hospitals on Sunday after making full recoveries, an increase of more than 16 percent over the previous day.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The panedemic is far from over, still some unknown variants are going around, China's lockdown was harsh, I admitted. But what is more important than saving lives? America has 1 million deaths, India has more than half a million people dead,Europe incluing UK also over half a million.. dont you think these death tolls can be fewer if the safety precautions was taken seriously as the standard like China? Yes tge measures was very unconvenience but this is science not talking politics I dont think anyone has rights to laugh at China over this!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

virusrexToday  06:10 am JST

Your own source puts China not even in the top ten, and that is before adding the numbers of Hong Kong, thank you for proving this supposed fact is actually false. China do not have the lowest death rates in the world, not even with the huge effort to count only a small fraction of the deaths and hiding an unknown number by making people negative to the infection after they die.

Ahhh, no, it puts China last, with the lowest rate.

And let's see your source that proves they are hiding an unknown number.

Do you have source? Let's see it.

Yes, Beijing is the last reported failure of the policy, not only to the international community but also to the chinese people, as described in the article clearly.

Beijing had like 38 new cases yesterday. How does that compare to Tokyo, Seoul, New York, etc.?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Ahhh, no, it puts China last, with the lowest rate.

Again that is completely false, from the top not even on the first 10 places, and Hong Kong (that obviously is in China) not even on the best 100, it is your own source that proves China is not the one with the lowest death rate.

And let's see your source that proves they are hiding an unknown number.

https://japantoday.com/category/world/surprisingly-low-shanghai-covid-death-count-spurs-questions

You even comment on that article, is is not believable that you ignore something you comment on.

Beijing had like 38 new cases yesterday. How does that compare to Tokyo, Seoul, New York, etc.?

Australia had 46, but counts as deaths every patient with COVID as a contributing factor, not like China that hides deaths by counting only those that have complete absence of any health problem, even if obviously unrelated to the death.

According to the Australian own numbers only 6 percent of their deaths would be counted using the Chinese system. That means they would have 3 deaths against the Chinese 30, completely proving that abandoning the zero covid policy gives much better results.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The capital has reported dozens of cases over the past week including 14 new infections on Monday, following a warning from health authorities that the virus has been circulating undetected for days.

Incredible a city of more than 20 million has so few cases.

And people want to criticize the Chinese government for following the advice of experts in order to keep its covid infections and related deaths the lowest in the world.

virusrexToday  05:31 am JST

No, not China but Shangai, that has approximately the same population of Australia, but 10 times more deaths directly attributable to COVID.

No one here or in the article is comparing the city of Shanghai with the country of Australia.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

No one here or in the article is comparing the city of Shanghai with the country of Australia.

I did, that is the whole point, when deaths coming almost exclusively from Shangai are ten times higher than what Australia have it clearly demonstrate how badly the policy is failing. You tried to misrepresent those deaths as if they represented the whole country but my point is that they came from a territory with similar population.

And people want to criticize the Chinese government for following the advice of experts in order to keep its covid infections and related deaths the lowest in the world.

There is no expert that says the zero covid policy is necessary, and you have already demonstrated China is not even on the top ten of countries with lower death rates.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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