Covid, China: Guangzhou lifts part of restrictions after another night of protests

the Chinese authorities partially lifted Covid restrictions in Guangzhou Citywhere demonstrators also clashed last night with the police to protest against the new measures imposed against the spread of the virus.

The totally unexpected decision was taken following exhortations from the US and Canada, which asked Beijing to not to violently repress citizen protests who oppose new lockdowns nearly three years after the start of the pandemic. Earlier today, the authorities suddenly announced the survey of blocks in about half of the districts from Canton. In Panyu, Liwan, Tianhe, Conghua and Huadu, the pandemic control areas were revoked, while in Haizhu, the hardest hit by the virus outbreaks, health authorities allowed “qualified close contacts” to be quarantined from home today, based on what was communicated by the local authorities.

The revocation came after new intense clashes that took place during the night between demonstrators and police in Canton, protests that are part of the riots that have been dragging on for days against the health restrictions imposed by the “zero tolerance” policy for Covid. Several images show police dressed in white overalls and equipped with transparent riot shields, marching in tight lines along a road in Haizhu district. Screams can also be heard in the videos as the orange and blue barricades are knocked down. People are also seen throwing objects at the officers.

One resident reported seeing around 100 police officers converge on Houjiao Village, Haizhu District and arrest at least three men. The important Chinese security system reacted hard to stifle the protests that took place last weekend in several cities in the country: anger exploded into violence, after almost three years of anti-Covid restrictions, which in China saw a succession of blockades very rigid and the almost daily PCR tests of the population.