Eduardo Baptista & David Stanway

BEIJING/SHANGHAI – Beijingers worried about restrictions to their mobility and the dozens new COVID-19 case reports daily. China’s leadership threatened legal action against anyone criticizing their zero tolerance COVID policy.

China has been unable to compete in a global market where COVID regulations are disappearing, resulting in a high economic cost.

Industry bodies around the world have voiced concern that COVID restrictions in China are having a global economic impact. People were worried about the long-term and painful restrictions.

Beijing was determined to avoid another explosive increase in the number of cases similar to the one that put Shanghai, the financial and commercial center of China into lockdown for nearly a month. It was an anxious atmosphere among capital residents.

Shi Wei, an elderly Beijingian said that sometimes everyone is easily annoyed. “When the virus can change people’s way of life at any time, people are more susceptible to mood swings.”

The Standing Committee of the Communist Party’s Politburo met to discuss the nation’s top decision-making body. State TV reports late Thursday night that China would fight comments or actions that distort and doubt its COVID policy.

It warned that COVID restrictions, which are being relaxed in many cities around the second largest economy, and impacting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, could lead to widespread infections.

An editorial from the Communist Party’s People’s Daily Newspaper defended China’s COVID Policy, which was alleged to be causing disruption in global trade and economy.

The statement said that some U.S. politicians had repeatedly attacked China’s epidemi prevention and control efforts and attempted to blame China for disruption of global supply chain. It did not name the individuals.

China said it was placing “life first”, and even though there is increased economic pressure, China could overcome these difficulties.

State television reported on the assurance given by the State Council or Cabinet that further support was being taken in order to stabilize the employment sector and improve foreign trade.

‘EFFECTIVE CONTROL’

Wu Qing (Shanghai vice major) stated on Friday that COVID-19-related infections had been “continuously declining” since April 22nd, and have “come under effective control.”

Yet, most of the 25 million residents of this city were unable or unwilling to move from their homes. This was despite the fact that their communities’ risk ratings were officially reduced to allow them more freedom to move.

Beijing reported many new cases every day since the outbreak. Officials said Friday that 72 of them had been identified on May 5. This is the largest number reported so far.

Shanghai reported 139 cases on the 14th day of its own epidemic, but these numbers quickly soared.

Residents were kept in lockdown, and restaurants and other establishments were closed. Beijing residents received a Friday break after three days of compulsory mass testing.

According to the state-backed Beijing Daily, residents would need to pass weekly COVID testing in order for them be allowed into public buildings or places and ride subways and buses.

Beijing would need a strong testing infrastructure in order to satisfy its 22 million residents.

Some residents claim they did not receive the full results of recent mass tests, and others complained about “pop-up” windows appearing on their mobile apps. This prevented them from using public transport or other public places even though they passed their tests.

The pop-up prevented me from entering the building yesterday, even though my results were negative in 24 hours. That’s crazy! A Wang surnamed resident agreed.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs (NYSE) suggested that regular testing might be an option for middle ground in China. This would allow cases to be isolated and identified early, with lower costs than locking down entire cities.

It “would not be a panacea, but would help limit disruption to a large part of China’s manufacturing and overall economic activity for a protracted period,” they said.