Riot in Guangzhou Against Tight COVID Control 中國堅動態清零 廣州爆發大規模抗議

Crowds of people in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou crashed through COVID barriers and marched down streets on Monday night in a show of public resentment over COVID restrictions.

In the streets of Guangzhou, protesters hollered and pushed through the barrier as COVID prevention enforcement officials defended in vain. Among all the latest outbreaks in China, Guangzhou has the biggest caseload, with new daily infections of COVID-19 surpassing 5,000 and fuelling speculation that localised lockdowns could widen. On Weibo, the Chinese word for "revolt" and other words relating to the recent zero-COVID protests have been removed by the officials. Related officials declined to comment on these issues. 

The extremity to which China has gone to stamp out the spread of the virus has resulted in mounting public anger and social contradictions. Local authorities take different actions on the implementation of COVID-control measures. Some places have decided on their own to place tighter control and restrictions on inland transport, creating problems.     

Han Ching-hua, Deputy Director, Ministry of Transport of the PRC: “We will correct and put an end to any type of overcontrolling and procrustean actions. ”

China announced major changes to its strict COVID-19 measures for inbound travelers on the 11th, reducing quarantine on arrival from seven days to five, followed by three days of isolation at home.

Mr. Zhou, Beijing resident: “It's been 3 years since the pandemic. I don't think it's possible that everyone could just let go of all the control measures. It's not practical either, many people are still very concerned about the disease. I don't think there's anything we can do but to give it some time. ”

China's National Health Commission officials stressed that the roll-out of 20 measures to optimize COVID-19 response is a decision based on scientific evidence and that strict epidemic prevention and control must be combined with optimized measures.

群眾連續推倒柵欄，一邊前進一邊叫囂，穿防護衣的人員無力再阻擋什麼。中國新一波疫情以廣州規模最大，單日新增確診超過5000例，大家都在猜測，局部封鎖可能再擴大，對於當局追求清零目標非常疲乏，也不想再承受。相關字串例如暴動，在微博已被刪除。當局對於這些情況沒有回應。

中國當局以極端手段防疫，從反抗的情況可看出大家越來越不耐煩，也激化社會矛盾。例如在運輸方面，就發現部分地方擅自關閉交通物流基礎設施、阻斷交通，以及隨意限制貨車通行等過度管控問題。

交通運輸部運輸服務司副司長韓敬華表示：「堅決糾正層層加碼、一刀切行為。」

國務院11日發布優化防控工作20條措施，例如「7天集中隔離+3天居家健康監測」，調整為「5天集中隔離+3天居家隔離」。

北京市民周先生認為：「關了3年了，也不可能馬上就進入這個狀態，也不太現實。還有好多人還有抱著很多的顧慮，沒有辦法，這個我們只能慢慢來。」

中國國家衛健委官員強調，為了適應疫情變化以及病毒持續變異的情況，新的20條措施目標更明確，以及更具科學性。這也顯示當局一直以來堅持動態清零的強硬立場，開始軟化並調整。