[Beijing Diary] Suddenly, the Front Door Was Locked Up

Beijing, China Sees Surge in Confirmed Cases with Lockdowns Across the City
Additional Cases Raise Risk of 'Jipjung Gyeongriso' Quarantine Facility Transfer

On the 16th of this month, the lockdown began as soon as I entered the house. The front door was locked with a thick padlock, and quickly procured steel pipes and iron plates blocked the access of outsiders.
(Photo by Kim Hyunjung)

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] On the afternoon of the 16th, when I arrived at my home located in Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, after finishing my reporting schedule, I instinctively knew upon seeing three Dabai (大白, a term referring to quarantine workers wearing protective suits) and security guards bustling in front of the entrance. 'Ah, the inevitable has come.'

A confirmed case emerged in the same apartment building where I live. In China, where even close contacts or a "sip-hon-il" (十混一, a positive reaction from a nucleic acid sample mixed from ten people) case among residents leads to a full lockdown, a confirmed case signals the start of quarantine life. Soon after, a WeChat group for residents was created, and the community-level administrative unit (Shequ, 社區) notified a five-day lockdown with no known release date.

The operation was swift. About ten Dabai blocked the entrance with steel pipes and iron plates, securing the door with a heavy padlock. A single-stall temporary toilet for the Dabai and shelves for temporarily storing packages and delivery food were installed in no time. The first-floor lobby of the apartment, densely packed with makeshift beds like a shelter, became the Dabai’s quarters. After receiving a nucleic acid test from a Dabai who visited past 10 p.m., the first day of lockdown ended.

On the 16th of this month, the lockdown began as soon as I entered the house. The front door was secured with a thick padlock, and quickly procured steel pipes and iron plates blocked the entry of outsiders.
(Photo by Kim Hyunjung)

On the 16th of this month, the lockdown operation began as soon as I entered the house. The entrance was locked with a thick padlock, and quickly procured steel pipes and iron plates blocked the access of outsiders. A makeshift restroom for the managers was installed on the left, and the waste from each household, contained in yellow bags, was placed in boxes and carried out. (Photo by Kim Hyunjung)

On the third day, the 18th, I received a call from the Shequ. They asked me to pack as I might have to move to a centralized quarantine facility and inquired if anyone in my family was ill or had difficulty moving. When I asked where the centralized quarantine facility was, how many days I would have to stay, and whether I was a close contact, the caller did not know either. They said, "I am only here to convey that a decision has been made," and "I am not in a position to explain."

It turned out that following the confirmed case on the 16th, another confirmed case had occurred on the same line. The day I received the call was my 9-year-old son's birthday, and I did not want him to spend the night in a quarantine facility. I filed a complaint with Beijing’s hotline 12345 and inquired about the criteria for close contacts at the consular office, staying busy until midnight, but no contact came to say I had to go to the quarantine facility (nor did I receive any notice that I did not have to go).

Our building, with two confirmed cases, was classified as a high-risk area, and the five-day lockdown period was reset. The Shequ distributed five days’ worth of self-administered antigen test kits and instructed residents to take photos of the test results along with their ID cards every morning. Each kit had a different serial number for easy identification and record-keeping. Since that day, the Shequ has sent daily lifestyle guidelines via the WeChat group, such as "Do not turn on kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans," "Close the toilet lid," and "Block the drains."

COVID-19 self-antigen test kits provided to families. Five days' worth were delivered according to the number of family members. Test results must be reported to Seochwi every morning along with a photo of the ID card. (Photo by Kim Hyunjung)

In the neighboring building, there was reportedly a small cheer among locals. In the past, even one confirmed case would have led to a lockdown of the entire apartment complex, but with the authorities’ precise lockdown guidelines, daily life could be maintained, which was a source of joy. Indeed, on the second day of the lockdown, the 17th, the State Council announced guidelines stating that only close contacts should be quarantined in case of cluster infections. Although the scope of "close contact" was vaguely defined without specifics, it was a signal against excessive quarantine measures.

However, most Beijing residents find it difficult to interpret the trend toward easing quarantine. Local restaurants, which usually required nucleic acid test results within 72 hours, have uniformly tightened the requirement to 24 hours, and most restaurants in Chaoyang District are either closed or only offer delivery and takeout. It has become difficult to get timely meals in locked-down complexes due to the shortage of delivery workers, and groceries ordered in the morning arrive only by evening. As of the 19th, Beijing’s confirmed cases reached 621, with Chaoyang District, home to many Koreans, accounting for more than half (318 cases). The gap between the authorities’ announcement to ease COVID-19 measures based on scientific guidelines and the frontline administration’s urgent need to curb the rapidly increasing cases is spreading confusion and anxiety on the ground.

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