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April 3, 2022, 11 p.m.

China orders millions in Shanghai to shelter in place as COVID cases surge

Summary

Shanghai is under lockdown, as COVID cases continue to surge in China’s financial capital. It is the most severe measure by the Chinese government to isolate and tract infections since it shut down the city of Wuhan after the virus broke out in 2020. William Brangham reports.

Five Facts

  • Who are some of the people interviewed in this piece?
  • What is the "zero COVID" strategy implemented by China?
  • Where is Shanghai, and what is notable about the city?
  • How is China imposing restrictions on the residents of Shanghai?
  • Why is China determined to eliminate COVID from the city?

Focus Questions

What do you think will be the effect on the city of Shanghai after multiple weeks of lockdown? Do you think a different strategy might work better? Media literacy: Why do you think the producers chose to highlight this story now that COVID cases in the U.S. are fairly low?

For More

To learn more about Shanghai's lockdown, read this .
COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai
A man stands on a bank of the Huangpu river in Pudong, amid the lockdown in the Pudong area, to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Shanghai, China March 28, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song
A man stands on a bank of the Huangpu river in Pudong, amid the lockdown in the Pudong area, to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Shanghai, China March 28, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song

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