Shortages of food and medical care have worsened over the past 12 days since officials sealed off the city of 13 million people in an effort to stymie the flareup that has already led to more than 1,600 infections. More posts are starting to emerge on Chinese social media criticizing the government’s poor management and complaining that access to food is extremely limited…

More than 100 people have been diagnosed daily for the past 10 days, a stark departure in China where a zero tolerance policy led to few locally transmitted infections throughout much of 2021. The deteriorating situation is putting officials under increased pressure as Chinese New Year, the country’s most important holiday and its busiest travel season, is looming, and it’s set to host the winter Olympics starting in February.

Some residents in Xi’an have started bartering food and cigarettes amid the shortages, according to posts seen on social media. Residents have been asked to remain inside their homes, with one family member allowed to leave every other day in a sometimes fruitless effort to find supplies. Others criticized the authorities for prioritizing residential compounds where government officials live.