Citizens trade for food in Xi’an during lockdown

Xi'an is at the epicenter of China's current Covid outbreak, and local authorities have enacted drastic measures which have attracted significant criticism online.
About 13 million have been confined to their homes in China’s Xi’an city since 23 December, and presently cannot leave to buy food. Authorities have been providing free food to households, but some have said their supplies are running low or that they have yet to receive aid.
With food shortage, people are seen in Videos and photos on social media exchanging cigarettes for cabbage, dishwashing liquid for apples, and sanitary pads for a small pile of vegetables. On social media users have described it as helpless citizens arriving at the era of bartering – exchanging potatoes for cotton swabs.
The strict measures come ahead of the Lunar New Year and the Winter Olympics due to be held in Beijing next month.