Volunteers responsible for disinfecting facilities with the potential to transmit the coronavirus in China (Photo: Getty Images)Authorities in China apologized to the population for invading people's homes in search of cases of covid-19.According to a report in The Guardian, Chinese state media said 84 houses in an apartment complex in Liwan district of Guangzhou city had been broken into in an effort to find hidden "close contacts" and disinfect the premises.The doors were later sealed and new locks installed, according to the country's authorities.The Liwan district government apologized for the violent behavior and an investigation was launched, according to the report.Cases of police and healthcare workers breaking into homes in China in the name of anti-covid-19 measures have also been documented on social media.In some, doors were broken down and residents threatened with punishment, even when they tested negative for the virus.Authorities demanded keys to lock residents of apartment buildings where cases were detected.In addition, steel barriers were erected to prevent residents from leaving their complexes and iron bars were welded to the doors.Strict anti-covid-19 measures have been testing the tolerance of the population, particularly in Shanghai, where the lockdown has spurred online protests among those lacking access to food, medical care and basic necessities.Beijing officials have taken a softer approach, concerned to avoid protests in the capital amid slower economic growth and rising unemployment.The requirement that only vaccinated people be allowed to enter public spaces, for example, was quickly lifted last week after city residents reported that it had been announced without warning.The country's "covid-zero" measures remain in place despite relatively low infection rates.The National Health Commission on Tuesday announced 699 new cases of domestic transmission detected in the previous 24 hours, most of which were asymptomatic.Do you want to check out the exclusive contents of Época NEGÓCIOS?Get access to the digital version.