China with Rapid Surge in COVID-19 Cases Urges "Stockpile Food and Daily Necessities"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Chinese authorities have advised citizens to stock up on food and daily necessities amid a resurgence of COVID-19.

On the 2nd (local time), according to CNN and others, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce sent a notice to local governments the previous day recommending the stockpiling of daily necessities, including vegetables, oil, and poultry, to prepare for everyday life and emergencies.

The Ministry of Commerce stated, "From this winter through next spring, we must ensure that citizens receive adequate supplies," and urged to "keep prices stable for recently soaring items such as vegetables."

As this notice spread through social media, citizens have become unsettled. One Weibo user said, "The authorities never asked us to stock up on daily necessities when the COVID-19 outbreak began early last year." Another user analyzed, "The government’s announcement seems to imply that people might not be able to afford vegetables this winter."

Some speculated that this might be in preparation for a war with Taiwan. State-run media quickly moved to quell such concerns. The state-run English media Global Times denied this, stating, "Taiwan is part of China's territory." The Economic Daily also explained that the notice was intended to prepare for temporary quarantine measures due to COVID-19.

A Ministry of Commerce official told CCTV in an interview, "The notice was intended for local governments, not the public," and assured, "There is no imminent threat that would disrupt food supply, and sufficient supply is guaranteed."

China, where confirmed cases have been increasing since August due to the spread of the Delta variant, is adopting strict regulatory measures ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics opening in February next year. The number of new confirmed cases announced by Chinese authorities on this day was 109, marking the first triple-digit figure since August 10.

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