Tech hub lockdown sparks rare protest

Dozens of people took part in a rare protest in Shenzhen after authorities announced a snap lockdown over a handful of Covid cases.

The tech hub of more than 18 million people had just 10 infections, but that had been enough for officials to order residents in three districts to stay home under China's inflexible zero-Covid policy.

Officials are also under pressure to snuff out outbreaks before the Communist Party congress in Beijing next month.

Dozens of people chanted "Lift the Covid lockdown" as rows of police in medical protective gear looked on and in one video clip shared on social media a woman shouts: "Police are hitting people."

The protest took place in Shawei, a neighborhood in Futian district where the city government is based.

And Shawei's subway station was shut down from 10pm on Monday until further notice "as part of pandemic prevention and control."

At least 14 "high-risk areas" across three districts - Futian, Luohu and Longgang - were under lockdown yesterday, with residents forced to stay home, though authorities were not offering details about the number of people affected.

Another 15 neighborhoods are marked as medium risk, with residents allowed to walk inside their housing compounds. Shenzhen has just emerged from strict Covid restrictions that saw schools and entertainment venues closed for weeks.

The city only allows residents to board public transport, enter a restaurant or access public services including hospitals if they have a negative PCR test taken within 24 hours. Hong Kong scrapped its mandatory hotel quarantine requirement for arrivals on Monday after strict virus rules threatened the SAR's status as a financial hub.

China is the only major economy still holding fast to a zero-Covid strategy, with its borders virtually closed since the virus first emerged in late 2019.

Swift lockdowns, long quarantines and mass testing have been a drag on its economy.

Earlier this year a grueling two-month lockdown in Shanghai - the world's third most populous city with over 25 million residents - was marked by food shortages, deaths due to lack of access to medical care and scattered protests.

In August, more than 80,000 tourists were stranded in the Hainan island resort city of Sanya after a Covid flare-up.

That led to tourists taking to the streets and shouting for local leaders to meet with them.