The city council published a new action plan for crisis situations on Wednesday. It states, among other things, that Xian may close schools and other buildings in the event of a flu outbreak. In the worst case, a lockdown would have to apply to the entire city, which has about thirteen million inhabitants.
The number of flu cases in China is currently on the rise. This is happening just as the country seems to be leaving heavy corona waves behind.
Due to the very strict policies of the government, many Chinese cities went into a long lockdown several times during the corona pandemic. In Xian, residents were not allowed to go outside at all for a month at the end of 2021, not even to buy food or other foodstuffs.
The city’s residents are furious at the prospect of facing strict lockdowns even with flu waves. On the Chinese social medium Weibo, there are massive protests against the plans of the city council. Many residents find them much too heavy and exaggerated.
According to critics, daily life in the city continued during previous flu waves. The city government has been accused of being “addicted to control” and too panicky. The authorities have not yet responded to criticism of their plan.
