Lockdown fears linger as Beijing says harder to control cluster

Bloomberg News

Beijing’s local government said a COVID-19 outbreak linked to a popular bar is proving more difficult to control than previous clusters, in a weekend that saw mass testing and rising infections both in the city and Shanghai.

Authorities delayed the reopening of most schools in the capital planned for Monday, while most districts in Shanghai suspended dine-in services at restaurants. Beijing reported 33 new local COVID cases as of 3 p.m. Sunday, all of which were found in quarantine. In Shanghai, cases continued to be detected in the community.

Outbreaks have reemerged just days after the two cities eased social curbs that had been in place for months. The quick rebound in cases once restrictions were shows the difficulties of fully stamping out more contagious virus variants, and explains why only China is still engaged in the effort of eliminating transmission.

Its zero-tolerance approach leaves the country stuck in a cycle of disruptive shutdowns and reopenings that hint at lingering economic pain. Most economists predict the country will fail to meet its annual growth target for this year. Lockdowns have already roiled global supply chains and impacted the operations of global giants from Sony Group Corp. to Tesla Inc.

The Chaoyang district in eastern Beijing, where the bar is located, will begin a three-day mass COVID testing drive from Monday. All 65 cases discovered on Saturday were linked to the bar cluster. Authorities didn’t set a new date for schools to restart.

Shanghai lifted its two-month lockdown on June 1, but briefly shut down most of the city Saturday to undertake mass testing. Residents earlier rushed to stock up on basic supplies in fear a positive case in their compound would mean they were sealed into their homes. Five cases were found in the community as of 5 p.m. Sunday, while some districts will be allowed to resume dine-in services on a trial basis.

Shanghai’s worst outbreak began in March in part stemming from lapses at a quarantine hotel. A dozen officials from Xuhui district were dismissed from their posts or given warnings after malpractice in implementing quarantine measures led to infections at Hua Ting Hotel in the same month, the Shanghai government said late Saturday. They included a party secretary, the district chief and two district vice governors.

China is unlikely to shift its COVID-zero approach any time soon, with President Xi Jinping preparing for a Communist Party leadership reshuffle later this year at which he’s expected to secure a precedent-breaking third term as president. China’s leader has called on his government to adhere “unwaveringly” to its virus strategy while striking a balance with the needs of the economy and social stability.