[Epoch Times, April 6, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Xu Jian comprehensive report) The video of a large number of infected infants and young children being forced to be separated from their parents in Shanghai shocked domestic and foreign countries, and even led to letters from embassies of many countries to protest. Authorities in Shanghai on Wednesday (April 6) allowed some parents to stay with their children infected with the CCP virus (coronavirus, COVID-19), an exception to the current CCP’s strict “zero out” policy.
The Shanghai authorities’ announcement comes as the Chinese financial hub remains under lockdown and on Wednesday underwent a new round of mass testing for the virus after another surge in cases.
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Parents can apply to live with children with “special needs” if they fully understand the health risks and sign an agreement, a senior city health official said at a news conference. Parents must wear masks, eat meals at different times with their children and avoid sharing items with their children, among other things, but city officials have not defined what a child with “special needs” is. The day before, Chinese state media reported that quarantine sites set up at the Shanghai New International Expo Center were accepting children accompanied by their parents.
Videos of parents being separated from infected children in Shanghai over the weekend sparked outrage after videos showing several children in each crib, but no parents by their side. Netizens have greatly questioned the government’s practice of isolating infected children in this way. “Save the children” and “return the children to their mothers” have become new keywords on the Internet, and the topic has become a hot topic on Chinese social media.
Earlier, officials from the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission stated at a press conference that parents must be positive patients in order to live in the children’s area to accompany and take care of their children and receive treatment together.
This regulation even triggered various extreme examples, according to netizens broke the news (See pictures hereThe Epoch Times could not verify the authenticity of the picture), in order to accompany the three-year-old child, the parents let the child spit after brushing his teeth, and then the parents licked each other, in order to ensure that the whole family can stay together whether at home or in isolation.
Diplomats from many countries have written to the Chinese foreign affairs department, urging the Chinese authorities not to do so. On March 31, the French Consulate General in Shanghai wrote to the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, and the British Embassy in Beijing wrote to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking not to separate parents from their children. Both the French consulate and the British embassy said their letters to relevant authorities were also on behalf of other countries, including EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.
Shanghai reported 17,077 new cases the day before, with all but 311 asymptomatic infections. The city requires all those who test positive, along with their close contacts, to be held in designated locations for observation.
EU Chamber of Commerce official: There is a food black market in Shanghai
The Associated Press reported that Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, chairman of the Shanghai branch of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and representative of the German Freudenberg Group in Asia, criticized Shanghai’s severe blockade: “We are seeing a severe shortage of daily necessities, especially fresh vegetables. Citizens cannot get delivery services through the app.”
She also revealed that a “black market” has emerged in Shanghai that sells “astronomical prices” of fruits and vegetables. “Another (people’s) real biggest fear is to end up being held in one of the mass quarantine sites,” she said.
More than 38,000 health workers from 15 mainland provinces have been dispatched to Shanghai to help with other needs such as mass testing.
Despite growing frustration, concern and anger in Shanghai over the economic impact, Chinese authorities say they are sticking to their tough “zero tolerance” approach, requiring lockdowns, mass testing and mandatory quarantine of all suspected cases and close contacts. At present, Shanghai has set up 62 isolation points in hotels, gymnasiums, exhibition centers and other places, and has established a makeshift hospital with a capacity of 40,000 beds in the Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Center.
Responsible editor: Lin Yan#