Armed police in southern China led four people, who had allegedly broken corona rules, through the city to mockery.
It is provoking reactions in the country, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday. The local authorities’ harsh approach to enforcing infection control rules has drawn criticism.
Zero tolerance
China dismantled public gaps for suspected criminals in 2010, but the method has re-emerged in areas where local authorities are struggling to enforce the national plan for zero tolerance for coronavirus.
The four people were taken through the city of Jingxi in the southern province of Guangxi, wearing protective suits, face masks and face shields and led by a group of armed rebel police.
They are accused of transporting migrants across the Chinese border, which is more or less closed as a result of the pandemic.
Alarms: – An infection tsunami
The incident has led to criticism from key groups in China.
Beijing News, which has ties to the ruling Communist Party in the country, says that although Jingxi is under great pressure to prevent the import of cases of infection, this type of punishment is contrary to the spirit of the law and can not be allowed to happen again.
The case has gone viral on social media. Posts about the incident are said to have received more than 350 million views and more than 30,000 comments on Wednesday night, according to The Guardian.
Stormed test center
Missing food
The strict corona rules also create problems elsewhere in the great country. In the northern city of Xi’an, which has been closed for seven days, the authorities are having trouble finding enough food and other necessary goods.
Many of the city’s residents took to social media on Tuesday to ask for help. The city of 13 million people tightened their freedom of movement on Monday. Residents are now only allowed to leave their homes to take coronatest.
The city has registered 960 cases of infection since 9 December. It is small compared to western countries, but the Chinese authorities have taken what they call the “strictest” possible measures to prevent the spread of infection.
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