SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – The elderly lady sat in a chair during Shanghai’s spring cold while her companions argued with police officers and other people wearing white biohazard suits. They were the only visible persons on a street that was being emptied of COVID-19.

Residents could hear their voices from a building twelve floors higher.

“She has been suffering from fever for the past few days!” One exclaimed, gesturing towards the woman. They were at least three metres from the people in the hazmat suit.

A male companion of the woman gave the contents of the medicine sachet to the female about an hour later. It was Lianhua Qingwen (a traditional Chinese remedy recommended by China for COVID-19), as a close-up photograph showed. Reuters could not verify the details or get the name and contact information of this woman, her companions or friends, due to lockdown restrictions.

Zhang was a worker at the property management department of the building where the local neighborhood committee used to be located. He claimed that the woman self-tested positive and had not received official results. It was not clear what kind of care she might receive.

Reuters saw the episode Tuesday and it lasted over two hours. This is a picture of China’s biggest, but most silent, city. The lockdown measures have been put on all its citizens in an effort to end its COVID-related monthlong epidemic.

This city is trying centrally to quarantine any COVID positive person and close friends among its 26,000,000 residents.

Because of its size, many complain that local authorities struggle to fulfill this task. Some complaints include unclear guidelines on what to do in the event of a positive test, lengthy waits for entry to central quarantine centers, as well as unsanitary and cramped conditions once they are there.

China doesn’t allow quarantine at home, however, some Shanghai residents claim that it took days for authorities to transport COVID positive people. This has stoked anxiety and confusion. Access to vital medical treatments is difficult and ordering food can be difficult.

Many have used Chinese social media platforms as a way to vent their frustrations, since the vast majority of them aren’t allowed to leave their home.

The woman, along with her friends, gave up on trying to find help in Shanghai. After helping the woman, one of her male friends bought a scooter. He drove off with her on a pillion.