Breaking Doors and Stamping Bodies... China’s Excessive COVID-19 Quarantine Measures

If You Have a History of Testing Positive for COVID-19, You Can't Get a Job Either

Chinese quarantine workers are entering homes to disinfect refrigerators. Photo by Ming Pao, Hong Kong.

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] China's excessive COVID-19 prevention measures are causing controversy. Authorities have been breaking down doors of private homes under the pretext of disinfection, and stamping citizens who tested negative for COVID-19. Meanwhile, many businesses are effectively refusing to hire people with a history of testing positive for COVID-19, leading to an increase in unemployed individuals.

◆ Lockdown triggered by a single case... Maintaining 'Zero COVID'

China's daily new COVID-19 infections have surpassed 500 for the first time in about 50 days. According to the global statistics site Our World in Data (OWID) on the 18th, China reported 678 new confirmed cases the previous day.

Currently, China is enforcing a 'Zero COVID' policy that imposes strict controls even if only one infection is detected. Since early this year, China has implemented partial lockdowns centered on areas where COVID-19 cases have emerged. For over a month since late April, most regions have enforced preventive measures such as working from home and banning dining inside restaurants.

Even famous tourist destinations could not avoid lockdowns. Beihai City, a representative resort city, reported its first infection on the 12th, and within five days, 531 people were infected with COVID-19. Consequently, Beihai was locked down, leaving about 2,000 tourists stranded.

The front door lock is lying on the floor. Photo by Weibo capture

◆ Disinfection without notice, stamping on bodies?..."Are we pigs?"

To prevent the resurgence of COVID-19, China has been breaking down doors of private homes under the pretext of disinfection.

On the 18th, Hong Kong Ming Pao reported that COVID-19 prevention personnel broke down doors of private homes to carry out disinfection. This disinfection operation took place in a residential complex where two confirmed cases were reported, and residents living in the same location were classified as close contacts and collectively admitted to centralized quarantine facilities.

Citizens claim that authorities and disinfection companies did not provide any prior notice or announcement about entering residences for disinfection.

A district in Wuxi City, China, has sparked controversy by stamping residents' hands with a "COVID-19 Negative Confirmation Seal." Photo by WeChat China

There have also been cases where citizens who tested negative for COVID-19 were stamped on their bodies. Since the 5th, photos have circulated on Chinese social networking services (SNS) such as Weibo showing COVID-negative confirmation stamps on the backs of residents' hands in a district of Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. According to the posts, local officials required residents to keep the stamp marks visible for three days.

Netizens strongly criticized this, saying, "Are they treating people like slaughtered pigs?" and "Those responsible should be held accountable." The authorities publicly apologized as the incident became a nationwide topic and public outrage grew. However, they shifted responsibility to lower-level staff, stating, "The staff in charge handled the matter simply and roughly."

In China, comprehensive city lockdowns continue as measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "People who tested positive are not hired"

Many businesses are reluctant to hire people who have had COVID-19, raising concerns about unemployment. Companies avoid hiring due to the possibility of testing positive again in PCR tests.

At Shanghai Railway Station's restrooms and surrounding areas, the number of homeless citizens unable to find jobs because they were previously infected with COVID-19 is increasing.

Premier Li Keqiang warned, "Employment discrimination against COVID-19 infected individuals is secondary harm," and said, "If employment discrimination is detected, it will be dealt with severely." However, on Chinese SNS, stories of being rejected from jobs due to having had COVID-19 continue to surface, indicating that discrimination still persists.