The Chinese
Communist Party (CCP), the global leader of the “not-so-free” world, has now asked
media outlets to refrain from using the word “lockdown” to refer to the
two-months-long lockdown in Shanghai, Chinese Digital Times reported. China’s
zero-COVID policy, criticised by the world, including the World Health
Organization (WHO), mandated a strict lockdown in Shanghai to curb the spread
of COVID-19. Now, Beijing hates the word.

The Chinese
government’s leaked document asking media organisations to toe the line stated:
Do not use the phrase ending the lockdown. Unlike Wuhan, Shanghai never
declared a lockdown, so there is no ending the lockdown.

According to
Beijing, what happened in Shanghai was a static management-style suppressions
and suspensions and the city’s core functions kept operating throughout.
Beijing has taken this position after the curbs were lifted in Shanghai. In the
leaked document, the Chinese government reportedly said the resumption on June
1 is conditional.

Chinese Digital
Times, the organisation that published the report, said that such communique is
often made to journalists and editors verbally, so the wording published may
not be exact. OPOYI has not independently verified the claim.

Shanghai, one of
China’s most populous regions, entered into a lockdown two months ago. Authorities
lifted some curbs from June 1 after they felt that the outbreak had been
effectively curtailed.

Also Read | Shanghai authorities move towards ending 2-month Covid-19 lockdown

On Wednesday,
people in some parts of Shanghai were able to come out and eat in restaurants
even as police were on guard to stop large crowds from gathering. The curbs,
however, are far from being holistically removed. Nearly 190,000 people
continue to stay in lockdown areas.

The Chinese lockdown
was according to Beijing’s zero-COVID policy. Factories were shuttered and a
reduction in semiconductor production led the world into a shortage. Shanghai
reported 29 cases of COVID-19 on Monday, down from 20,000 cases a day in April.
Li Qiang, the top official of the CCP in Shanghai, said the city has made major
achievements in fighting the outbreak.