Dozens protest in China's Shenzhen over lockdown

80
1
Dozens protest in China's Shenzhen over lockdown

BEIJING: Dozens of people have taken part in a rare protest in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen after officials announced a snap lock down over a handful of COVID 19 cases.

The megacity of more than 18 million people reported just 10 infections on Tuesday, but officials still haven't told residents in three districts to stay home as China sticks to its strict zero-COVID policy.

Officials are under pressure to snuff out outbreaks ahead of a key political meeting in Beijing next month.

Videos circulating on Weibo and Instagram since Monday - verified by AFP - show dozens chanting lift the COVID lockdown as rows of police in medical protective gear look on.

In a clip, a woman shouts: Police are hitting people. The protest took place in Shawei, a neighbourhood in the Futian district where the city government is based, according to AFP.

The Shawei subway station was shut down from 10 pm on Monday until further notice as a part of the Pandemic Prevention and Control program, the city's metro operator said in a statement.

On Tuesday, at least 14 high-risk areas across three areas - Futian, Luohu and Longgang - were under lock down with residents forced to stay in their homes, health officials said, without giving any details on the number of people affected.

Another 15 neighbourhoods are marked as medium-risk, with residents only allowed to walk inside their housing compounds.