New coronavirus outbreaks in China lead to strict lockdown measures

A second-wave outbreak of coronavirus isn’t just a theoretical possibility – it’s already happening in China, where authorities have started placing some cities under the strictest control measures as infections climb once again.

The latest city to see a turn for the worse is Shulan, in the northeastern part of the country near the Russian border. Home to 703,000 people, the city has been hit especially hard by the virus recently. Around 8,000 people were quarantined over the weekend as a result of the outbreak, and six local officials were given their walking papers for their failure to contain the disease there.

Those living there are finding themselves in the middle of a lockdown like the one seen in Wuhan in the early days of the disease. Just one member of the household can leave, and only on alternate days for buying essentials. The total amount of time they spend outside of their apartment cannot exceed two hours.

Of course, that only applies to people living in certain apartment buildings. If you have the misfortune of living in a residential compound where there have been reported, confirmed or suspected cases, no one in the complex can leave. Instead, residents must supply grocery lists and local stores will deliver the goods.

One person told The Epoch Times that Shulan has “become the second Wuhan.” Those living there are scared to leave, and some are burning through their savings just to survive.

Shulan isn’t the only high-risk city seeing extreme measures these days. It joins the Fengman District, where a “blanket search” is being carried out to identify anyone who might have been exposed to the virus. Recently reopened schools will be suspended once again, even for those who need to take their high school entrance exams, and entertainment venues and dine-in restaurants are also closed once again.

Wuhan testing described as chaotic

In Wuhan, diagnostic testing was recently ordered for all 11 million people residing there. However, the process is completely chaotic, with locals reporting that dozens of throat swabs were being tossed into containers without labeling. They question the point of taking the test in the first place if there’s no way to tell which one belongs to which individual.

Residents of one neighborhood report that medical officers brought just 600 testing kits for around 6,000 residents. Others have complained about privacy concerns after being photographed holding their ID cards during testing.

In many of these areas, the sale of anti-fever medicines has been banned to stop people from trying to hide their symptoms.

More than 25 million currently under lockdown in China

One of China’s top respiratory experts, Zhong Nanshan, recently told CNN that his country remains vulnerable to another wave of infections. “We are facing a big challenge,” he said. “It’s not better than the foreign countries, I think, at the moment.”

Right now, at least 25 million Chinese people are under enhanced lockdown because of coronavirus. In addition to Shulan and Jilin, the areas of Heilongjiang and Liaoning have also been hit. It’s believed that the new outbreak is related to Chinese nationals who returned from Russia.

In late April, tens of millions of Chinese people were able to travel for the first time in several months during the five-day national holiday, and the quarantine requirements for people who arrived in Beijing were lifted.

Unfortunately, a similar scenario is likely to play out in the U.S. as people get back to their normal lives. A second wave in the U.S. is considered nearly inevitable, so it’s important not to let your guard down as states loosen restrictions. Be sure you eat a healthy diet to keep your immunity up, continue to practice social distancing, wear a mask, and wash your hands frequently to minimize your chances of getting sick.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Edition.CNN.com

BusinessInsider.com