Although the number of cases of infection in China is still negligible compared to other countries, the authorities are taking rigorous action once morest new outbreaks. Strictly controlled regional lockdowns, mass tests and travel restrictions are now part of everyday life in many areas. Authorities are keen to contain the virus before the Beijing Winter Olympics begin in February.
Most recently, the central province of Henan was in focus following 64 locally transmitted infections with symptoms of the disease were reported Thursday. The city of Xuchang restricted the freedom of movement of the citizens to the minimum and ordered mass tests for the more than four million inhabitants. The Gushi district with one million inhabitants was effectively cordoned off following a symptomatic and an asymptomatic case of infection had been identified. In the cities of Hebi and Kaifeng, cultural and entertainment facilities were closed even without evidence of a new infection.
Neither out nor in in Xi’an
For a few weeks now, however, the main focus has been on Shaanxi Province. Her capital, Xi’an, has been locked down for more than two weeks following the largest outbreak in China since the Wuhan lockdown in early 2020 was reported here.
The people in the metropolis are only allowed to go outside in absolutely exceptional cases. Public life was largely shut down. Air traffic has also been discontinued in the meantime. Many residents recently complained that they were insufficiently supplied with food and that they were denied access to the most important everyday items.
Now reports have also become public that medical help has been denied to several people because of the CoV measures. A woman in Xi’an is said to have miscarried because she was denied treatment for an expired coronavirus test. The case of the eight month pregnant woman became known through an online post from her niece at the beginning of January. Accordingly, the woman was denied entry to Gaoxin Hospital for two hours because of the lack of a valid test. A photo published on the Internet showed her sitting on a plastic stool, surrounded by a pool of blood.
Sorry from authorities
The message was later deleted from online services. Its contents might not be independently verified. However, the city council of Xi’an announced on WeChat on Thursday the suspension of the hospital director and other responsible persons and opened an investigation. On Wednesday, officials announced the establishment of fast access to hospitals for pregnant women or patients in critical condition.
Xi’an Health Commission head Liu Shunzhi publicly apologized for the incident. According to the city administration, the hospital was also instructed to “remove hidden dangers in its work processes”.
Not an isolated case
The miscarriage was apparently not the only tragic case in connection with the CoV restrictions. Another woman also reported on the online networks that she had lost her child following being turned away from several hospitals.
Another resident of Xi’an also drew attention to her father’s fate online on Thursday. According to the post, he was not admitted to a clinic following a heart attack “due to the pandemic regulations” – until he might no longer be helped. She drove from hospital to hospital for eight hours while her 61-year-old father complained of chest pain, she said. After he was finally admitted to a hospital, “the doctor said we had waited too long”. Your report was clicked 500 million times, according to the AFP news agency.