Beijing’s New “No‑People” Zone: Everyone Goes Online
Picture this: kids stifling their laptop sighs in every classroom, parents scrolling through scrolling‑time apps, and the city’s residents flooding the internet like a flock of smart‑bird drones. That’s exactly what Monday looked like for schools in Beijing’s hardest‑hit districts, as officials threw a “stay‑home” spell over the capital’s buzzing streets.
Why the Digital Turn?
- China’s latest COVID‑19 spike reached 26,824 new local cases last Sunday—nearly brushing the 2023 pandemic peak.
- Beijing itself reported 962 new infections, shimmering over the previous 621.
- Two new deaths in the capital, the first since a May lull, tipped the scales from silent to stirring panic.
It’s nothing new to see Beijing’s free‑flowing chaos re‑enter lockdown mode. But this time, the city’s response is more targeted than a laser‑focused policy question.
Guangzhou: A Five‑Day Must‑Sit‑Down
While Beijing is turning the campus to a virtual playground, Guangzhou—home to 19 million plus people and China’s fresh‑fry outbreak—fired up a five‑day lock‑down in its most populated Baiyun district. Dine‑in services, nightclubs, and theaters in Tianhe are on ice‑cold hold.
The “No‑All‑You’re‑A‑Bunch‑Gather” Policy
Since the “zero‑COVID” tweak, China’s strategy has evolved from blanket lockdowns to a more surgical approach—treat each city like a tribal chief’s personal health escort.
- Sudden testing cuts appear in Shijiazhuang and other hubs.
- Responsive mass testing launches in six districts, after a daily spike hit 641.
- Schools flow digital, while a keeps‑alive online practice emerges across Haidian, Dongcheng, and Xicheng.
Markets React: Bonds and Dollar Feel the Heat
Shaky Asian shares and dipping oil felt the crunch. Investors wrapped their dollar/ bonds tighter than a freshly packaged flop, worried about the economic fallout from China’s intensifying outbreaks.
Official Guidance: Quick Wins, Long‑Term Stuff
On Monday, the National Health Commission released a paper‑burner guide, laying out testing steps, risk‑zone demarcations, and home‑isolation “dos and don’ts.” The Peoples’ Daily also reminded everyone: catch infections early, but avoid a one‑size‑fits‑all approach.
Bottom Line
True to the new direction, China’s tendency to juggle local lockdowns with a sharper, targeted health policy will be tested by tomorrow’s date. Residents, on the other hand, just want to go back to their phones, sleep, and watch memes for the world’s next headline.
‘Feeling the stones’
China’s Squeeze: Chill or Spring? Investors Hold Their Breath
China’s latest tweak of its Covid rule‑book has investors sparking hopeful chatter, even as the country faces its first winter with the super‑giant Omicron variant attacking like a flock of rubber ducks on a Sunday swim.
When Will the Big Push Come?
Most analysts think the real loosening will wait until March or April. President Xi Jinping still champions the famed zero‑Covid policy as a lifeline, insisting it keeps the hospitals from turning into health‑care disaster sites.
But let’s be realistic: you can’t just put a “Go!” button on a pandemic – you need a massive booster blitz and a new attitude toward the virus. Nobody wants to binge the bad news while everyone’s looking for a quick fix.
Health System: Crunch Time or Forward March?
Chinese authorities are building up hospital capacity, opening fever clinics, and cooking up a vaccination campaign.
- More capacity to treat patients.
- Fever clinics to pick out the sick early.
- Vaccination drives ramp up the boosts.
Oxford Economics takes a cautious view, predicting a full exit from zero‑Covid only in the second half of 2023. Elderly vaccination rates are still too low for comfort.
“From an epidemiological and political perspective, we do not think the country is ready yet to open up,”
– Oxford Economics report, Monday.
Hao Hong’s Take: “Crossing the River, Feeling the Stones”
Grow Investment Group’s chief economist, Hao Hong, sees a gradual, carefully managed reopening already underway.
“The challenges are mounting, but this isn’t about if China will reopen—it’s about how long it will take, and how best to reduce both healthcare costs and possible lives lost,” he says.
He rates the probability of this gradual approach at a solid 4 out of 5.
Why This Matters
Like any country seeing through a pandemic, China’s approach will be a test of patience and strategic planning, balancing public health with economic revivals.
If the vaccines roll out faster than the headlines, the global market might just breathe a sigh of relief. If not, the winter will stay icy and investors may keep nervously watching the scoreboard.
