'Closed Until Further Notice:' Shanghai Disneyland Goes Into Lockdown As COVID-19 Cases Go Higher

One of the world’s largest Disneylands was forced to shut down until further notice after a surge in COVID-19 cases in Shanghai, China. This move serves as a sharp reminder that the fight against the virus is not over for even the world’s second-largest economy.

On Monday, Shanghai Disney Resort announced that it would be closed, a move the company said was temporary but it offered no clear date for when it expected to reopen.

"We will continue to monitor the pandemic situation and consult local authorities, and will notify guests as soon as we have a confirmed date to resume operations," the resort said in a statement.

Shanghai’s Disney Resort, which first opened in 2016, is one of the most frequented amusement parks in the world. According to Travel & Leisure magazine, the resort attracted over 11 million visitors in 2019, the year before COVID-19 became a worldwide pandemic.

But the closure represents two uncomfortable realities: the continued spread of COVID-19’s Omicron variant and the way in which China has struggled to keep it under control despite its strict containment policies.

Omicron was first detected in November 2021 in South Africa and quickly inspired concern worldwide because of its high transmissibility. Adding to the concerns was Omicron’s apparent ability to bypass the protections offered by existing COVID-19 vaccines. China responded to Omicron by doubling down on its “zero-COVID” strategy which aims for a complete elimination of the virus through strict public health measures like lockdowns, mass testing and limiting the entry of foreigners into China.

But this strategy has come under immense pressure as major Chinese cities that anchor global supply chains are being forced to close. Shanghai, home to more than 28 million people and a hub for international export, has been grappling with a rise in Omicron cases that carries the risk of choking supply chains further.

The International Monetary Fund has been critical of the zero-COVID approach for the way it has exasperated economic recovery pains worldwide. Delays in deliveries, even if only by a few days of lockdown, have ripple effects that leave a backlog of shipments that can last for weeks or months.

Despite this, President Xi Jinping has made clear that Beijing will stick with this approach.