On April 19, Shanghai Deputy Mayor Chen Tong visited a residential community in Baoshan District for an inspection. In photos circulating online, Chen and his team wore full protective suits while entering a private home. The most noticeable detail was that his hands never emerged from the sleeves—even when opening the refrigerator door, he did so through the sleeves. Additionally, the residents’ home inspected by Chen was filled with food piled from the refrigerator to the table, which netizens criticized as a staged performance.
At the time, Shanghai residents were locked down at home and struggling with "difficulty in buying groceries." Many netizens angrily complained online that it was nearly impossible to buy vegetables in Shanghai; this contrasted sharply with the situation observed during Chen Tong's "inspection."