Shanghai’s growing COVID-19 outbreak is causing desperation among residents with chronic medical conditions who depend on the increasingly overwhelmed health care system, as even getting to regular appointments becomes nearly impossible.
The Chinese financial hub decision to seal off its 25 million people in two stages this week hasn’t yet slowed the conflagration as local infections jumped more than 30% to a record 5,982 on Wednesday. It’s made daily life a challenge for residents, who struggle to get fresh food and walk their dogs. For those with ongoing health needs, it can add a life-or-death hurdle to the equation.
Beyond Shanghai, cases are rising nationwide, with some 71 million people in or facing imminent isolation. Xuzhou, a city of 9.1 million located 600 kilometers (372 miles) northwest of Shanghai, was shut down on Wednesday, the sixth lockdown imposed in just over two weeks as Beijing strives to tame the outbreak. Nationwide, there were 8,655 cases reported on Wednesday, according to China’s National Health Commission.