Shanghai announced the city’s lockdown on 28th March, which is concerned as the most extensive Coronavirus lockdown in China since 2020 due to the nation’s Zero-Covid strategy.
The lockdown takes two parts: The 1st lockdown covers the Pudong area in Shanghai from 28th March until 1st April; then Puxi, west of the river, will remain shut down from the 1st April 2022 for at least 4 days.
Mellisa Kim, a self-employed entrepreneur tells her story of one day before Puxi’s lockdown in Shanghai.
“Today seems like the ‘New Year’s Eve’ for the Puxi region in Shanghai because everyone went out for food shopping then stay at home. I won’t be able to get out of the door from 3 am when the lockdown starts. No public transport will go to another side of Huangpu River when Pudong re-opens after the region’s lockdown.”
Individual neighborhoods rule lockdown in Shanghai. “My area is rather safe. I bought food that should be enough for 2-weeks in case the local authority extends the lockdown. From tomorrow, there won’t be any delivery services in the entire Puxi district in Shanghai.” Melissa indicates.
“China takes lockdown very seriously. The local authority will seal doors. There has no chance to get out during the lockdown. My father’s colleague got Covid when she went out for Covid-test from her residential building. People are very cautious about going out because we don’t know if people passing us have got Covid or not, especially when Pudong district in Shanghai currently has 5,000 Covid cases per day.”
The food supply in Shanghai seems strong enough for specific areas that suffer Covid cases. “When Covid cases occur within a neighborhood, the area will be locked for more than two weeks. In this case, local authorities will distribute food to each door everyday and charge very reasonable prices. I’ve heard some people already received food bags including cucumber, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggs.”
Food prices rose 60% in supermarkets before the lockdown in the Puxi district. “For example, I went to buy two cabbages and one lettuce this afternoon which cost ¥16, which normally should not be more than ¥10.” Melissa demonstrates.
Food inputs are difficult to weather the Covid pandemic in Shanghai. Panic buyers swept supermarkets, leaving shelves empty before the lockdown in Puxi. “A few days ago, before the lockdown announcement, I got up at 6.30 am trying to purchase online food shopping delivery. The site system crashed due to web traffic. Likewise, all food will be gone at physical supermarkets before 2-3 pm.”
“We are very adaptable to the sudden changes in our lives caused by the lockdown. I will still deal with clients online, and the lockdown won’t affect my business that much. However, I feel extremely sad for the elderly and vulnerable people when there is a lack of medical support during the lockdown in Shanghai.”
China’s Zero-Covid strategy helps to calm the pandemic. The strict lockdown seems harsh for people seeking medical aid on the downside.
“I’ve seen a help letter from a woman on the internet. Her father has severe diabetes and requires dialysis treatments when the local hospital shuts down the dialysis center in Shanghai. It breaks my heart to see things like this.”
“Pregnant women and people who need medical treatments will have to book emergency service before the lockdown starts. Otherwise, there is a good chance that the ambulances will not arrive on time due to the lack of doctors and nurses in Shanghai.”
“I’ve seen another help letter published on the internet to say an elderly woman living alone in Shanghai seeking help for food, she only has one piece of tomato left at home.” Says the 29-year-old.
Recoding to Shanghai Observer, “More than 2,000 medical staff from Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces arrived in Shanghai on 28th March to support.”
“Positive patients will be sent to the modular hospital first of all. Medical devices within modular hospitals are not advanced. I’ve heard of a leukemia patient who needs bone marrow transplantation. Unfortunately, he tested positive and had to stay at home for the time being.”
“My parents live in the Pudong district in Shanghai. I told them not to go out too much even when the Pudong district reopens on 1st April. People’s lives are more important than going out.” Mellisa adds.
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