China’s President Xi Jinping praised the country’s “tested” zero-Covid strategy on Friday, even as Shanghai authorities prepared nearly 130,000 beds for Covid-19 patients amid surging cases and mounting public anger.
Until March, China had kept cases low with localised lockdowns, mass testing, and strict restrictions on international travel.
But the country has reported thousands of daily cases in recent weeks, with economic hub and outbreak epicentre Shanghai placed under lockdown over ballooning infections of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Shanghai authorities said on Friday that 130,000 new beds were ready or under construction for Covid-positive residents in the city at makeshift venues including exposition halls.
The city reported more than 21,000 new infections on Friday, the vast majority asymptomatic.
Yet President Xi on Friday lauded the country’s Covid response, saying at an event to honour Olympic athletes that the country’s handling of the recent Winter Games showed that its virus policy “once again withstood the test.
Source: eNCA
In other news – SAD: Foreigners in Diepsloot ask to be repatriated
The Foundation for Human Rights has started receiving requests from migrants in Diepsloot who want to be assisted to go back to their countries after attacks on immigrants.
The Johannesburg-based organization, which focuses on human rights issues across SA, said it was in contact with other civic organizations and governments to help those who want to leave the township. Learn more
