China has deployed police in a large number of cities across the country on Tuesday to prevent further protests against the strict measures imposed by the government under the ‘Covid Zero’ policy.
The protests that have rocked mainland China in recent days, which are rare in the country, were sparked after a deadly fire broke out in a residential building in Xinjiang that killed ten people over the weekend, following accusations that restrictions by COVID hampered rescue efforts.
Security forces have detained passers-by, checking their phones for suspicious content or software that can be used to circumvent Internet censorship, reports DPA agency.
In Beijing, police have concentrated on the Liangma River promenade near the diplomatic quarter. Meanwhile, in Shanghai’s financial center, officers have set up barriers to prevent large crowds from gathering.
China is recording the highest number of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, reporting 38,400 new cases on Tuesday. With these numbers, authorities are enforcing widespread movement restrictions in multiple cities.
