BEIJING, May 4 ― The Chinese capital Beijing shut dozens of metro stations and bus routes today in its campaign to stop the spread of Covid-19 and avoid the fate of Shanghai where millions of residents have been under strict lockdown for more than a month. New evidence has emerged that China's...
BEIJING, May 4 ― The Chinese capital Beijing shut dozens of metro stations and bus routes today in its campaign to stop the spread of Covid-19 and avoid the fate of Shanghai where millions of residents have been under strict lockdown for more than a month.
The capital shut more than 40 subway stations, about a tenth of the network, and 158 bus routes, service providers said. Most of the suspended stations and routes are in the Chaoyang district, the epicentre of Beijing's outbreak. Twelve out of 16 Beijing districts were conducting the second of three rounds of tests this week, having done three mass screenings last week.After more than a month, most people in mainland China's biggest city and its financial centre are still not allowed to leave their housing compounds.
Authorities say the zero-Covid policy aims to save as many lives as possible, pointing to the millions of Covid deaths outside China, where many countries are throwing off precautions to “live with Covid” even as infections spread.But the policy is hurting domestic consumption and factory output, disrupting key global supply chains and shrinking revenues for some of the biggest international brands, such as Apple, Gucci-parent Kering and Taco Bell-owner Yum China.
Its analysts cut their 2022 growth forecast to 4.3 per cent, from 4.8 per cent, well below China's official 5.5 per cent target.