Shanghai reported the first Covid-19 death in the middle of the blockade

Test Covid-19 in Shanghai on April 17 afp

AFP news agency on April 18 reported the city Shanghai recorded the first 3 deaths in Covid-19 outbreak Currently, are 3 elderly patients with underlying medical conditions, in the context of the Chinese economy facing “significant difficulties and challenges”.

“Three patients developed a serious condition after being hospitalized and died after all efforts to save their lives proved ineffective,” according to the city government’s announcement on the website. social network.

The deaths include two 89- and 91-year-old women and a 91-year-old man, with pre-existing medical problems. health such as coronary artery disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Shanghai is suffering from an epidemic Covid-19 was the worst ever and on April 18, 22,248 more positive cases were recorded, including 2,417 symptomatic cases. On the same day, mainland China recorded an additional 23,460 infections, including 2,742 symptomatic cases, bringing the total to 185,035 infections and 4,641 deaths.

Despite being the place where the first Covid-19 infection was recorded in 2019, China has quite well prevented the number of new infections thanks to policy no Covid-19 cases, through mass testing, travel restrictions and regional blockade.

However, the country is managing to control the number of infections in many areas, mainly due to variations Omicron. The previous deaths recorded on March 19 were 2 patients in Jilin province and the first death in more than a year.

On April 16, the city of Suzhou, near Shanghai, encouraged workers Work from home and limit contact. A day earlier, the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone in Henan province announced a 14-day blockade order that would be adjusted according to the epidemic situation.

In northwest China, the city of Xi’an on April 15 asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel and encouraged workers to work from home or stay at work.

Growth challenges

China’s economy grew 4.8 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, China’s National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, warning of “significant difficulties and challenges” ahead.

This growth was higher than the previous forecast of 4.4%, and up from 4% in the fourth quarter of last year.

However, Reuters forecasts Chinese economy growth is only 5% this year, below the 5.5% target.

Barclays Bank (based in the UK) forecasts China’s GDP growth in the second quarter will slow to 3%, making full-year growth likely to only 4.2%, if Shanghai extends the prolonged lockdown. 1 month and some areas in this city blockade for 2 months.