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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Covid in China: Officials sorry for break-ins amid hunt for contacts | Covid in China: Officials sorry for break-ins amid hunt for contacts |
| (4 months later) | |
| Dozens of homes were broken into in Guangzhou in the search for close contacts | Dozens of homes were broken into in Guangzhou in the search for close contacts |
| Chinese officials have apologised to residents of a locked-down community in Guangzhou for removing the locks on the doors to their homes. | Chinese officials have apologised to residents of a locked-down community in Guangzhou for removing the locks on the doors to their homes. |
| A number of people at the apartment complex in the southern Chinese city had recently tested positive for Covid. | A number of people at the apartment complex in the southern Chinese city had recently tested positive for Covid. |
| Officials were searching for close contacts who may have been hiding in an attempt to avoid being moved to a quarantine centre. | Officials were searching for close contacts who may have been hiding in an attempt to avoid being moved to a quarantine centre. |
| China maintains a strict zero-Covid policy and quarantines are common. | China maintains a strict zero-Covid policy and quarantines are common. |
| Those affected by the break-ins have been told that they will be compensated for the damage. | Those affected by the break-ins have been told that they will be compensated for the damage. |
| According to the Tianmu News outlet, the locks were broken on the front doors of at least 84 homes by grassroots officials and community workers. | According to the Tianmu News outlet, the locks were broken on the front doors of at least 84 homes by grassroots officials and community workers. |
| The incident happened on 10 July, soon after several people at the complex had tested positive for the virus. | The incident happened on 10 July, soon after several people at the complex had tested positive for the virus. |
| According to the Global Times newspaper, residents were moved to a centralised quarantine facility, but "some close contacts were found hiding in their houses", leading to searches of other homes for "hidden residents". | According to the Global Times newspaper, residents were moved to a centralised quarantine facility, but "some close contacts were found hiding in their houses", leading to searches of other homes for "hidden residents". |
| 'An apology is not enough' | 'An apology is not enough' |
| Video was captured of some of the break-ins and posted on popular social networks like Sina Weibo. | Video was captured of some of the break-ins and posted on popular social networks like Sina Weibo. |
| It sparked an angry outcry, with many calling for those involved to be arrested for illegal entry, given that trespassing falls under China's criminal law. | It sparked an angry outcry, with many calling for those involved to be arrested for illegal entry, given that trespassing falls under China's criminal law. |
| The district government in Guangzhou's Liwan District apologised yesterday, saying the break-ins "deviated from the requirements of epidemic prevention". It said that an investigation would be carried out, and those involved punished. | The district government in Guangzhou's Liwan District apologised yesterday, saying the break-ins "deviated from the requirements of epidemic prevention". It said that an investigation would be carried out, and those involved punished. |
| Users on the popular Sina Weibo social network have called the incident "lawless" and have posted that such behaviour "tramples on people's civil rights". | Users on the popular Sina Weibo social network have called the incident "lawless" and have posted that such behaviour "tramples on people's civil rights". |
| "Is this a country ruled by law?" one person asks. "An apology is not enough," adds another. | "Is this a country ruled by law?" one person asks. "An apology is not enough," adds another. |
| Footage of the break-ins went viral | Footage of the break-ins went viral |
| China has maintained a strict zero-Covid policy throughout the pandemic. Whole communities are locked down when residents test positive. They are then either restricted from leaving their homes, or moved to quarantine bases. | China has maintained a strict zero-Covid policy throughout the pandemic. Whole communities are locked down when residents test positive. They are then either restricted from leaving their homes, or moved to quarantine bases. |
| Very little notice is often given before a lockdown, often triggering anger and anxiety. Some lockdowns have lasted for months, as in the city of Shanghai earlier this year. | Very little notice is often given before a lockdown, often triggering anger and anxiety. Some lockdowns have lasted for months, as in the city of Shanghai earlier this year. |
| Currently, there are more than 1,000 locked-down communities in the country, as outbreaks have raged due to the highly-transmissible Omicron subvariants. | Currently, there are more than 1,000 locked-down communities in the country, as outbreaks have raged due to the highly-transmissible Omicron subvariants. |
| More than 90% of China's 1.4bn population is vaccinated. | More than 90% of China's 1.4bn population is vaccinated. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Zero Covid holds danger for China's Xi | Zero Covid holds danger for China's Xi |
| China lockdowns: The economic cost of a zero-Covid policy | China lockdowns: The economic cost of a zero-Covid policy |
| China: Why is the WHO concerned about its zero-Covid strategy? | China: Why is the WHO concerned about its zero-Covid strategy? |