Protests against coronavirus disease outbreak measures in Urumqi city, Xinjiang, Uygur, China in this screen grab obtained from a video released November 25, 2022.Protests against coronavirus disease outbreak measures in Urumqi city, Xinjiang, Uygur, China in this screen grab obtained from a video released November 25, 2022.
The protests were an unprecedented show of civil disobedience in mainland China since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012. From Monday, people in Shanghai will no longer have to show a negative COVID-19 test to take public transport and visit parks, authorities announced on Sunday. Some inconsistencies as the restrictions are eased have angered people, including a requirement in some places for a negative COVID-19 test even though mass testing centres were closing.
China argues the policy, which has all but shut its borders to travel, is necessary to save lives and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed.