China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the government’s fight against Covid will be successful.
Amid widespread anger and protests in China against the Zero-Covid policy aimed at containing the disease, the authorities on Monday lifted the anti-virus restrictions in the affected areas. However, officials continue to follow the Zero-Covid policy as they refuse to comment on growing protests and criticism from President Xi Jinping, according to a report from the Associated Press. Press. According to the National Health Commission, the country recorded 39,452 new Covid cases on Monday, including 36,304 local asymptomatic cases. As of Sunday, daily cases in the country stood at 40,347. The protests were among the largest since Xi Jinping took power for his third term last month.
Here is the latest update on the Covid situation in China:
1) China’s foreign minister said on Monday that the government’s fight against Covid will be successful. “We believe that with the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the support of the Chinese people, our fight against COVID-19 will be successful,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters. story.
2) The country has accused “militants with evil intentions” of linking the deadly fires in the western region of Xinjiang to the severe Covid system. This was one of the reasons for the riot. Online messages circulating on Chinese and foreign social media platforms said the long Covid-19 lockdown in Urumqi hampered rescue efforts after the fire on Thursday night, AFP news agency reported. In response to questions and discussions, the spokesperson for the Foreign Minister Zhao Lijian said: “On social media, there are forces with malicious intent linking this fire to the regional response to Covid-19.
3) On Monday, the authorities in Shanghai set up barricades around the city center where hundreds of people demonstrated against the Covid restrictions. According to a Reuters report, there have been no signs of further protests in Shanghai or Beijing.
4) The Chinese government said on Monday that a former National News reporter, who was attacked and detained while protesting in Shanghai, did not identify himself as a journalist. Controversy erupted over the journalist’s actions and the First National News says he did not receive an apology from China. “Based on what we learned from the relevant authorities in Shanghai, he did not identify himself as a journalist and did not voluntarily hand over his newspaper,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Zhao Lijian, and called on the international media to obey China. rules and regulations while in the country. The UK government has raised objections to the arrangement.
5) Goldman Sachs Group has said that China may move away from the Covid Zero policy sooner than expected. Hui Shan, Goldman’s chief China economist, wrote on Sunday evening, “The central government can choose between multiple lockdowns and the outbreak of Covid.