Beijing residents push back against Covid-19 lockdown

They challenge community officials, insist on documentation before obeying curbs

- Danson Cheong China Correspondent

BEIJING Beijing resident Summer Zhang’s heart sank when she was notified on Saturday that one of her neighbours had tested positive for Covid-19.

This often meant a swift and sudden lockdown as officials from the neighbourhood committee, or juweihui, sealed off the building to prevent further infections.

This, however, was not what happened to Ms Zhang and her neighbours, who confronted the community officials.

As the surge of infections in the Chinese capital puts more housing communities under lockdown, some Beijing residents are challenging their community officials, whom they say are acting outside the bounds of their authority.

Ms Zhang and some 30 neighbours demanded two things: proof that there was a positive case in the building, and an official notice from the district government certifying that the building was under lockdown.

“Without these things, they cannot lock down our building. If you have legal proof, I will comply. If not, why should I?” said the 39-year-old event planner.

The community officials were unable to provide what the residents wanted and allowed them to leave the premises.