In China, we do not joke with the Covid. The country is continuing its “zero Covid” policy. Millions of inhabitants are currently reconfigured across the country, sometimes for only a few proven cases. We were able to reach a Belgian who lives in Shanghai. He tells us about his ultra-controlled daily life.
A deserted city. The 26 million inhabitants of Shanghai in China have been confined since April 1. A Belgian expatriate is one of them. He still does not know when he will be able to leave his home.
We are still stuck when, in my community, we have had zero cases for 28 days
“Initially, we were warned that it was going to last 4 days. And then they told us that it will take 14 days with zero cases to be able to go out. Again, hope. 14 days pass and we are still stuck while, in my community, we have had zero cases for 28 days”, explains Philibert Van der Sleyen.
Residents cannot leave their homes, not even to do their shopping. They all have their food delivered. This delivery represents an additional cost to each order of supplies. “For a box of vegetables that usually costs 5 euros, maybe it cost us 20-25 euros to have fairly basic food delivered to us”, believes the Belgian.
All the people are on top of each other with a light on nonstop
The only reason for leaving is to perform a PCR test every other day with the fear of receiving a positive result and being sent to a quarantine centre. “Exhibition centers, gymnasiums, schools have been requisitioned to park symptomatic people, without hot water, with a lot of promiscuity. All the people are on top of each other with a light on non-stop. These are very dystopian images,” confides the expatriate in Shanghai.
Philibert hopes to return to normal life within a month and remain negative to return to Belgium in July.