Over the weekend, thousands of Foxconn workers in central China fled the facility following a COVID-19 outbreak. The workers said they feared being trapped in close working conditions with sick people and little food or medical treatment.
Under China’s “Zero COVID” policy, entire cities could be locked down, and residents forced to stay in their homes. Fearing a similar response, thousands of people at the Foxconn factory decided it was time to go.
Videos posted to social media show thousands of people reportedly leaving by any means necessary from the factory in Zhengzhou. The factory makes the majority of iPhones for the global market. It is not possible to verify that everyone in the videos was a Foxconn employee.
Like other Chinese factories, the Foxconn facility was operating under what’s called “closed-loop” management, meaning workers were required to also live at the factory. Local media reports several people at the Zhengzhou site tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-October, but that the facility didn’t do enough to care for the sick employees.
China’s “Zero COVID” policy isn’t restricted to factories or workers, though. On Monday, Shanghai Disneyland abruptly shut its gates, locking park employees and patrons inside. The park said it was complying with local COVID-19 protocols, and that everyone inside would need to have a negative COVID-19 test before being released.
The theme park did continue to operate rides for people stuck in the park.
Reuters contributed to this report.
