Forced by the situation, they are now demanding exemption on rents they are paying for their shops.

Videos posted by Chinese social media accounts show merchants protesting and demanding rent refunds. It can be clearly seen in the videos that people are holding placards with “No refund/cancellation of rent, no reopening” written on them, reports ANI news agency.

The protestors in the videos are seen to be suppressed by a large number of public security officials, as per the media outlet. Calling for a relief package from the government, shop owners in Shanghai have held a rally, the news agency reported.

The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 23 locally-transmitted confirmed COovid-19 cases, including 11 in Beijing, six in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and four in Liaoning, the National Health Commission said Friday, reports Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Shanghai city reported two confirmed locally transmitted Covid-19 cases and two local asymptomatic cases.