Video: COVID curbs trigger unrest in this Chinese city

Barricades were torn down, queues were broken as people in Chinese city of Guangzhou challenged the tight COVID restrictions.

The chaotic scenes from November 14 are from Haizhou district which saw people crashing into barricades on the streets in an evident outburst against lockdown.

The video has circulated days after the China's ruling party eased some of its restrictions. Although the government in its latest announcement has called for strict adherence to the hard-line “zero-COVID” policy.

Haizdhu district, which is home to small businesses and wholesale markets, has been experiencing tensions since it was put under lockdown in the month's beginning.

Tensions mounted after workers found it difficult to meet production targets for a shopping festival, resulting in street rage by migrant workers, residents to protest the lockdown.

China reported 17,772 new cases over the previous 24 hours and follows slight changes to quarantine and other anti-virus restrictions announced last week to reduce cost and disruption.

The major provincial capital of Shijiazhuang just outside Beijing has also reopened free testing centres after just one day of closure. The move to require residents to pay for tests underscored the growing economic cost the policy is inflicting on local governments.

(With input from PTI)

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