The ‘green code’ app: How China’s Zero COVID policy is turning cities, parks, restaurants and shops into digitised fortresses
In China, seemingly simple things still pose barriers and blocks.
Catching a train from Shanghai to Beijing used to be a very easy thing to do. The high-speed rail network here is impressive, the two open and international cities very well linked.
But times are still not ‘normal’ here, and that journey is now something of an undertaking.
We made the trip this week, arriving into Beijing during the 20th Party Congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. It’s a once every five year political meeting to choose the country’s top leaders.
If it’s the ‘Zero COVID’ agenda that dictates much of why things are so complicated, Congress has turbocharged it.
In order to simply board a train in Shanghai, we needed three so-called ‘green codes’ from three separate apps. Getting those required multiple tests, minimal contacts and a massive amount of uncertainty.
Taking a train in China is now beset with tests, apps, and queues
Green codes are essentially digitised proof you most likely don’t have COVID – we needed one from the Shanghai authorities, one from the Beijing authorities and a third so-called ‘green arrow’.
But simply testing negative isn’t always enough, people’s codes can change colour simply for travelling from another district or province where cases have been detected.
In short, travelling to Beijing felt a bit like trying to get into a digitised fortress.
It’s a snapshot of how Zero COVID is still dictating the lives of ordinary people.
In most places, you have to have a green code to be allowed to do pretty much anything; enter shops, restaurants, parks and playgrounds, even housing and office compounds.
It means people need a COVID-19 test at least every 2-3 days, testing centres can be found on street corners everywhere.
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This woman says she has not been able to visit her home town for over a year
While people are largely resigned to it, there are clear hints of frustration. One woman told me how she’s not been able to visit her home town for over a year, she’s too worried she’ll have to quarantine on returning home and disrupt her child’s schooling.
Everyone I spoke to said they would ideally like things to return to how they were.
In some places, though, tempers are fraying and patience is wearing thin. A few weeks ago in the province of Shenzhen, a group of people under lockdown clashed violently with those trying to enforce it. There have been rare instances of graffiti calling for an end to the rules.
And speaking out is very brave; criticising the Zero COVID agenda is seen as akin to criticising the government.
President Xi Jinping made it clear in a speech opening Congress that, for now at least, the policy is here to stay. Saving lives, he says, must come first.
A victory narrative will be needed in order to change course, and there’s no evidence one has been prepared.
Explainer – Xi Jinping set to tighten his grip at Communist Party Congress
People supposed to be under lockdown clashed violently with those trying to enforce it
But it is no doubt causing concern at the highest level. The consumer economy has been crippled by the strict and sudden lock-downs, economic growth has slowed significantly, and youth unemployment is currently at record highs.
All these things have the potential to cause instability, and instability is arguably the Communist Party’s biggest fear.
With the exception of North Korea, China is the only country in the world on this path.
But there are costs to treading it, and beneath the control, cracks too.
“Super high-IQ revolutionaries” who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk’s new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump’s incoming US government.
The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help “dismantle government bureaucracy”.
The post said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators.
“We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants.”
Read more:
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Trump’s cabinet signals tough stance on China
Elon Musk speaking at an event held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Pic: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In a reply to an interested party, Mr Musk suggested the lucky applicants would be working for free.
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lost of enemies & compensation is zero,” the world’s richest man wrote.
“What a great deal!”
When announcing the new department, President-elect Donald Trump said Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies”.
Mr Musk has previously made clear his desire to see cuts to “government waste” and in a post on his X platform suggested he could axe as many as three-quarters of the more than 400 federal departments in the US, writing: “99 is enough.”
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
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The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
Mass displacement in Gaza – people unsure where to go
Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic as health secretary
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
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