Bureaucratic Barriers: COVID Protocols that cost a baby’s life

In November 2022, anti-lockdown protests erupted across China, triggered by stringent COVID-19 measures. Notable incidents included clashes at a Foxconn iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, where workers protested delayed bonuses and poor quarantine conditions. In Guangzhou, residents defied lockdowns, leading to confrontations with authorities.

Public anger intensified after a 4-month-old baby’s death due to delayed medical care under COVID restrictions. The baby’s father recounted how emergency services were delayed due to COVID protocols, which significantly hindered timely medical response. Despite eventually arriving, the emergency personnel initially refused to transport the baby to the hospital. The delay resulted in the baby waiting 12 hours for medical assistance, leading to her tragic death.

This incident sparked widespread public outrage and criticism of the “zero-COVID” policy’s severe impact on people’s lives, and posed a significant challenge to Xi Jinping’s leadership.