Beijing's local health authority officially recorded 56 new COVID-19 cases on April 27, including three asymptomatic cases. Earlier this week, Beijing authorities expanded mass testing from one of its 16 districts to 11, fueling expectations of an imminent widespread lockdown.
Xinfadi Agricultural Wholesale Market, in southwest Beijing, is the largest of its kind in the city. It's the "go-to" place for most of Beijing's major grocery stores, markets, and restaurants. As busy as it usually is, sudden fears in Beijing over Shanghai-style restrictions following news of a significant outbreak brought an even greater surge in demand this week. With the sudden demand, authorities looked to find a solution. By today, unprecedented supplies were reaching the market helping to restore confidence.
According to an article on news.cgtn.com, the Xinfadi Market itself has very few concerns over supplies, even during a crisis. After over three decades of operations, it says it has full confidence in its processes and suppliers.
It seems that many Beijing residents are also stockpiling essential supplies such as food, water and toilet paper because they were worried they might struggle securing those items if the city went into lockdown. Millions of people in Beijing's largest district have had their second COVID-19 test this week, with the Chinese capital trying to keep an outbreak of dozens from spiraling into a crisis.
"The Beijing municipal government told people not to worry about basic supplies, but people took it as a signal to stock up on [goods]," a local said. "There's a sense of disillusionment with the government policies."
Source: abc.net.au