Anger after five or six-year-old boy was discovered in Hubei during checks by community workers

A young boy in Hubei province has witnessed his grandfather die and remained at home alone afterwards because of coronavirus restrictions, according to local media.

The news of the child’s ordeal prompted an outpouring of anger online in China.

In Zhangwan district in the city of Shiyan, which has implemented “wartime control” to prevent the spread of the virus, local community workers on Monday afternoon found an elderly man surnamed Tan who had died at home. His five or six-year-old grandson was also at home, Guo Ruibing, vice deputy director of the publicity department of Zhangwan district, told local media.

The official did not confirm details posted online that the man had died several days earlier and that the grandson had survived on biscuits. When asked by community workers why he did not seek help, the child reportedly said: “Grandpa said not to leave. There is a virus outside.”

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Guo told Hongxing News, a government-affiliated media platform, that it was not possible that Tan had died days earlier. Under the lockdown measures in which residents cannot to leave their homes, community workers had been making daily visits to check on residents, asking for their temperatures and if they needed any food supplies.

Guo said the time and cause of Tan’s death was still being investigated. He said the grandson was being taken into care “according to procedure” by the district. The child’s father is in Guangxi province and because of the lockdown measures on the area cannot return. When asked whether Tan’s temperature was normal before his death, Guo said: “Certainly, it was normal.”

The news caused a flood of criticism online, underlining public frustration and mistrust. “Why do they always do such a crappy job of ‘dispelling rumours’?,” one user on Weibo wrote, pointing out that the official could have used the community records to back up his statement. “The government always says, ‘impossible’ or ‘absolutely’ but who can believe you?”

Another blamed misinformation from the government, adding: “The reason why rumours are so common among the people is because they are so en vogue among the government.”

“The lesson from Wuhan is that you cannot trust them. You can only trust your own,” one commenter posted.

Earlier this month Zhangwan district was the first to implement official “wartime” quarantine measures in response to the coronavirus, which emerged in nearby Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.

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Commercial and residential buildings in Zhangwan were sealed and no unapproved outside cars could enter. Only healthcare workers and those providing essential supplies were able to be out on the streets, policed by public security. Local committee districts were to arrange food and medicine for residents. Those who broke the rules would be detained, an official notice said.

Additional reporting by Lillian Yang