China’s strict zero-covid policy has resulted in lockdowns in major cities as a new surge in  infections hit the country after quarantine restrictions and tracing were relaxed in recent weeks.

On November 24 and 25 new cases exceeded 30,000 per day, outstripping levels in April that led to 25 million residents in Shanghai enduring a two-month lockdown.

There have been street protests in a number of major cities but schools, shops and factories have closed and there is a continuing negative impact on the economy.

After a rebound in 2021 to a GDP growth of 8.1%, the IMF is forecasting growth in 2022 to be  4.4% after China’s economy was shaken by the lockdowns in the second quarter, during which the economy only grew by 0.4%.

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