Mass COVID-19 infections and forest fires are raging in China. There are also extreme heat and drought-induced power cuts. A BBC correspondent reports on “apocalyptic scenes”. People are trying to face the attack of a dangerous disease in extremely difficult conditions.
China has been struggling with a wave of unprecedented heat for several weeks. High temperatures and much lower than usual rainfall disrupted the operation of hydroelectric power plants, forcing electricity rationing. The massive use of air conditioning makes the situation even worse. Large forest fires broke out in Southwest China’s Chongqing and Sichuan provinces, Reuters reported.
Regardless of the weather and energy drama, the Chinese are struggling with another wave of coronavirus. Massive PCR tests are being carried out in the country, with gigantic queues for which.
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Millions of people queuing for testing
Chinese authorities are still implementing their zero COVID strategy and striving to eliminate the virus completely. In many cities, including Chongqing, there are mandatory screening tests for all residents. Swabs are usually taken in tents set up on the streets and squares. Power outages mean that sometimes swabs are taken under the light of flashlights and … a glow of fire over the cityas shown by photos and recordings posted on Twitter:
A sleepless night in Chongqing:
Chongqing reported 40 COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, making a total of 146 cases as of mid-August. Authorities have ordered more than 10 million people in the city to undergo mandatory testing at a time when the temperature in Chongqing exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. More than 3800 temporary test stands were established.
Photos on Chinese social media show that residents are lining up in long lines, some fainting in the heat.
According to CNN, in order to make sure that residents of central districts comply with the testing obligation, the authorities changed the so-called health codes of all cell phones to orange. The codes will not turn green until the tests are completed. The green code is a prerequisite for participating in normal everyday life in China.