Rare Protests In China Over ‘Zero-Covid’ Policy As Cases Rise

China’s COVID restrictions, the most stringent in the world, are causing mounting frustration throughout the country, including a rare public protest in the southern city of Guangzhou.

Since the outbreak began three years ago, most likely in the Chinese city of Wuhan, China has enforced strict lockdowns, daily testing and widespread quarantines.

The World Health Organization says the stringent restrictions have kept down infections and deaths. China, with a population of 1.5 billion, has reported 9.4 million infections and 29,426 deaths related to COVID this year. The U.S. in contrast reported 96 million infections out of a population of 332 million.

Nonetheless, infections appear to be on the rise recently, reaching 19,609 new cases on Wednesday, a six-month high.

In October, dozens of cities across China went into strict lockdown. The BBC reported that on Oct. 24, an estimated 28 cities across the country were implementing lockdown protocols, affecting over 200 million people.

Lockdowns and quarantines differ between regions. In Guangzhou, in-person schooling and in-restaurant dining were shut down in October due to a rise in cases. The continuous lockdowns have led to businesses closing and higher rates of food scarcity as people can not leave their homes to get groceries and other necessities.

Guangzhou’s most recent lockdowns have impacted roughly 6 million people. The area of the city where the protests took place on Monday is home to 1.8 million people. Residents have been ordered not to leave their homes. They are also to undergo daily testing and attend school online. The New York Times reported that barricades had been placed around neighborhoods with positive cases.

The protests on Monday saw the streets packed with angry demonstrators. Videos on social media showed police cars being tipped over, barricades knocked down, and demonstrators physically clashing with police. By Wednesday, several neighborhoods in Guangzhou are still under stay-at-home order officials have yet to say when the order will be lifted.

. Chinese President Xi Jinping doubled down on lockdown policy in October, saying it’s a “people’s war to stop the spread of the virus” and restrictions will not be eased.