As lockdown lifts, China shows the world what comes next

China was the first place to roll out a coronavirus lockdown and today, it's the first place to try and resume normal life. But as lockdowns lift in hard-hit Wuhan and Hubei province, life is anything but normal. In this episode, which features content from the Bloomberg Businessweek podcast, we look at what post-lockdown life in China is like. From constant temperature checks to harsh travel and workplace restrictions, post-lockdown life is much less free and connected than it was. As the South African government slowly lifts its lockdown measures, China offers some insight into what our future may hold. – Felicity Duncan.The novel coronavirus first appeared in Wuhan in China, and after some initial delays, the Chinese response was harsh – a total lockdown featuring unprecedented restrictions on people's movements and behaviour. As new cases have declined and Covid-19 deaths per day have fallen, China has begun to reopen its hardest-hit region, including the outbreak's epicentre in Wuhan..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.As China lifts lockdown measures, however, life in Wuhan is far from normal. Using intrusive digital surveillance tools, China continues to keep tight control over citizen's movements and actions as it seeks to keep the virus at bay..Few countries can match China's ability to control citizens – most don't have its enormous state surveillance operations or its autocratic powers. However, Wuhan's experience holds lessons even for a democracy like South Africa. As the ANC government starts to ease restrictions, it will be taking lessons from China about what works, what doesn't, and what is necessary to keep people safe while keeping the economy functioning.

As lockdown lifts, China shows the world what comes next

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