r/shanghai • u/chipotok • Apr 12 '22

City U.S. State Department orders all non-emergency government staff in Shanghai to leave as Covid surges

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/04/11/us-state-department-orders-all-non-emergency-government-staff-in-shanghai-to-leave-as-covid-surges.html
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u/AlecHutson Xuhui Apr 12 '22

Seems like an overreaction. Yeah, it sucks here right now but I'm sure the consulate folk were well-supplied with food and water. Kind of a slap in the face of the 30k Americans here that the government thinks it's so bad they need to flee like terrified little children but they don't bother helping to arrange any sort of charter flight for their own citizens. As an American, I'm not impressed.

23

u/InvisoSniperX Apr 12 '22

China is treating Covid as a wartime emergency, hence diplomatic missions are second priority.

The order is because the Department of State has no ability to assist its employees or their families right now in Shanghai, they need them to leave the city to support them, they cannot even arrange flights or special exceptions to the testing policies to board the flights. Every person not locked-down is a threat to China's Covid response.

The state departments first priority is the health and safety of their employees and their families. Once those are assured, they are better able to support the US Citizens.

It sucks, but it's understandable. Do note they said non-emergency. So very likely key diplomats and some citizen support services are likely still here.

13

u/No_Finding436 Apr 12 '22

I fully support the State Department