Xi Jinping says ‘persistence is victory’ as Covid restrictions return to Shanghai and Beijing

Workers in protective suits set up barriers outside a building, following the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Shanghai Photograph: Andrew Galbraith/Reuters

Xi Jinping has reiterated China’s commitment to zero-Covid, declaring “persistence is victory”, as Shanghai and Beijing were hit with new lockdowns, shutdowns, and mass testing drives just a week after the cities celebrated the easing of restrictions.

In response to China’s worst outbreak of the pandemic, Shanghai spent months under an arduous and strict citywide lockdown, while Beijing authorities imposed localised lockdowns, venue and public transport shutdowns, and work-from-home orders. In the last week both had begun easing restrictions, with authorities praising the containment of the community outbreaks of the Omicron variant.