China's capital Beijing swings from anger over zero-Covid to coping with infections

Pandemic control workers in protective suits sit in a neighbourhood that used to be under lockdown, as coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreaks continue, in Beijing, China December 10, 2022. - Reuters

BEIJING, Dec 11 (Reuters): Beijing's Covid-19 gloom deepened on Sunday with many shops and other businesses closed, and an expert warned of many thousands of new coronavirus cases as anger over China's previous Covid policies gave way to worry about coping with infection.

China dropped most of its strict Covid curbs on Wednesday after unprecedented protests against them last month, but cities that were already battling with their most severe outbreaks, like Beijing, saw a sharp decrease in economic activity after rules such as regular testing were scrapped.