[Report] Chinese Residents Still 'Anxious,' Keep Wearing Masks

After the De Facto End of COVID-19, Fever Checks Continue at Large Supermarkets in Beijing
"Some Say the Toast Was Raised Too Soon"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] On the 10th, at the entrance of a large supermarket in Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, the capital of China. You can only enter after passing through an automatic fever check device installed at the market entrance.

Pausing briefly in front of the fever check, the number '36.5' appears. Among the people inside the market, no one was without a mask. It was also rare to see customers wearing so-called 'tukseukeu' masks, which are masks hanging on the chin.

Although the Chinese government officially announced on the 8th that it had achieved a 'strategic victory' in the war against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), a cautious atmosphere is still evident in daily life in Beijing.

Despite the Chinese government's declaration of a "strategic victory" over the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Chinese people continue to live without removing their masks. The photo shows the interior of a large supermarket located in Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.

Mr. Wang Zui, whom I met in the Wangjing restaurant district, said, "I believe Beijing is safe due to the government's quarantine measures, but I don't think the entire country of China is a safe zone," revealing that everyone harbors anxiety about when COVID-19 might spread again.

The citizens' anxiety stems from a continued lack of trust in the Chinese authorities. Although Chinese health authorities have announced that there have been no new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland for nearly a month, not many Chinese people fully believe this.

This is because asymptomatic infected individuals are not classified as confirmed cases, and overseas re-imported cases are continuously being detected. The Chinese themselves fear that if they become complacent, the virus might spread again.

The group infection at Beijing's Xinfadi Market on June 11 is a representative example. In early June, many Chinese office workers were planning summer vacations, and quite a few had already purchased airline tickets in advance. However, with the outbreak of the group infection, Beijing was locked down, and the 22 million residents of Beijing had to stay confined.

Some voices say that the Chinese government 'raised the toast too early.' There are criticisms that while the whole world is still suffering from COVID-19, China has become complacent.

Mr. Cheng Lijun, a Chinese citizen, said, "I think Beijing, China, is the safest place in the world," but also added, "I am a little afraid, wondering if things are becoming too lax."

Analysis suggests that the Chinese government’s declaration of the end of the pandemic, despite the risks, is due to strong pressure to revitalize domestic consumption.

A source in Beijing said, "To raise China's economic growth rate in the second half of the year, domestic demand must be supported," adding, "Since normal economic activities are impossible worldwide, there was no other card besides domestic demand."

Interpretations that the Chinese government’s decision involves political calculations are also gaining traction. It is believed that China aimed to showcase the superiority of its socialist system domestically and internationally by emphasizing its infectious disease prevention system.

There are also remarks that this was a strategic choice to enhance the authority of President Xi Jinping. To overcome the waves of US-China conflicts, an entity with absolute support is needed, and this decision highlights President Xi as that entity.

However, concerns are not few that this was a risky gamble, given that if a second Xinfadi Market incident occurs, the criticism and shock to President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party would be significant.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.