Wuhan Household Food Provisioning under Blockaded COVID-19 Lockdown

How might people under blockaded lockdown during a pandemic obtain food? The experiences of those inside Wuhan who underwent the January-April 2020 COVID-19 blockaded lockdown have generated multiple investigations. The topic is of relevance to those concerned with food systems in general and food security during disasters in particular. This article presents a primary analysis of original survey and interview material on household-level food provisioning, using a gender and intersectional approach to disasters, together with a review of reports by others. The key observation is that a highly contagious coronavirus proved less threatening to food security in a large and diverse city than did socio-economic inequalities. However, although Wuhan households under blockaded pandemic lock-down were differentiated and conditions more difficult for some than others, overall food provisioning succeeded. This occurred through an established governmental system linked with social networks adapted to the circumstances across a set of digital applications.