Refinitiv Newscasts - Mass COVID testing prompts panic buying in Beijing

Wumart Stores

25/04/2022 15:35

Click the following link to watch video: https://share.newscasts.refinitiv.com/link?entryId=1_y0ma02jq&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2022:newsml_OV379325042022RP1_K15&pageId=RefinitivNewscasts
Source: Thomson Reuters

Description: As Beijing's biggest district began mass COVID-19 testing on
Monday (April 25), concerns around food supplies and a possible lockdown
prompted residents to clear shop shelves as they panic-bought groceries and
other supplies. Rachel Judah has more.
Short Link: https://refini.tv/3vdqUKC

Video Transcript:

>> In Beijing, residents have been clearing supermarket shelves as mass
COVID-19 testing began in the Chinese cities biggest district on Monday,
prompting fears of a Shanghai style lockdown. Uneasy shoppers crowded into
stores and placed online orders trying to stock up on items, such as fresh
leafy vegetables, fresh meat, instant noodles, and rolls of toilet paper. >>
Seeing so many people buying food at the same time made me a little nervous,
but actually, it's still okay. >> But 26-year-old, Mr. Hay, believes the angst
around supplies is mainly among older generations. >> Personally, I don't plan
to go grocery shopping, and I think it's the same for young people and those
in their 30s. Generally speaking, the elders at home have more time and they
have a stronger mindset of having to care for their children and their
families. So they're more proactive. But for the others like us, we have to
treat this situation as per normal. >> Supermarket chains in Beijing,
including Kofu and Wumart, say they have more than doubled their inventories
to account for the increased demand. And Mitterrand's grocery focused
e-commerce platform increased stocks and the number of staffers for sorting
and delivering according to the state backed Beijing daily. Testing, which is
currently taking place in the capitlal's most populous district, Shaoyang,
comes after dozens of cases were reported in recent days. "Seventy locally
transmitted cases have been found in eight of the capital 16 districts since
Friday," a local officials said. Residents and those who work in Shaoyang,
home to 3.4 million people, have been ordered to test three times this week
and reduce public activities. Although most schools, stores, and officers
remain open, more than a dozen buildings in Shaoyang have also been put under
lockdown. Despite everything, Mr. Hay, who works in the service industry, is
confident. >> There was definitely a certain degree of worry because it will
affect jobs and overall efficiency, but I don't think it will develop as it
has in Shanghai. From my point of view, it can be controlled. >> While the
Chinese capitals caseload is small compared with those globally and the
hundreds of thousands in Shanghai, the country is continuing to stick by its
COVID elimination strategy