"Expelled for Violating Quarantine Policy" Chaos Amid COVID-19 Resurgence in China

Rapid Spread but Strong Backlash Leads to Cautious Avoidance of Unilateral Control
Nearly 10,000 Daily Cases After Half a Year

Barriers controlling access have been installed in shopping districts in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, where the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has sharply increased. Chinese authorities are maintaining a 'Zero COVID' policy by locking down areas visited by confirmed cases and quarantining all incoming travelers from abroad for 7 to 10 days. Guangzhou, China = AP Associated Press [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] As the number of COVID-19 cases surges across China, confusion is intensifying on the front lines of quarantine efforts. Public backlash has grown over fatalities caused by unreasonable quarantines, making unilateral control measures like those in the past difficult to implement. The government appears to be reflecting public complaints and aiming for early resolution, fearing organized resistance or loss of public trust.

According to the National Health Commission of China on the 10th, as of the 9th, the number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide was 8,824 (7,691 asymptomatic), an increase of 650 from the previous day (8,176). Until the end of last month, the number of confirmed cases was controlled in the 2,000 range, but it has sharply increased this month, approaching 10,000. Since May, China had managed to keep COVID-19 cases under 10,000. In Guangdong Province, daily confirmed cases surged to 3,052 (2,538 asymptomatic), the highest nationwide, while Henan and Inner Mongolia also exceeded 1,000. The capital Beijing reported 105 confirmed cases.

The steep rise has caused confusion in local frontline quarantine and control guidelines. According to local media such as Zhonghua Net, a middle school in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, on the 8th of this month, expelled two students and placed them under six months of probation for failing to comply with epidemic prevention and control requirements. These students reportedly left their homes during self-quarantine to go out. As criticism over the excessive punishment spread, the Suzhou Education Bureau conducted an investigation and issued an administrative order stating that the punishment was inappropriate and should be revoked.

At a university in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, where a mass escape of Foxconn factory workers had occurred, students feeling anxious about meals and logistics left the school dormitories under control. The school and local authorities are urging students to return to campus. In Guangzhou, with a population of 19 million, face-to-face classes were suspended in 8 out of 11 districts, and some areas issued additional lockdowns and stay-at-home orders.

Additionally, in Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, a Korean-dense area, some international schools experienced increased confusion as parents expressed dissatisfaction with remote classes on the 9th, prompting a hurried switch back to offline classes.

Bloomberg News reported, "China's COVID-19 control methods are changing," noting, "Despite the rapid spread, broad lockdowns are being hesitated, and in some cases, lockdowns are quietly imposed without announcements."

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