The residents of Xi’an must “remain in their homes except for imperative reasons.”
The Chinese authorities imposed confinement on Xi’an (north), a city of 13 million inhabitants, on Friday, as a result of a rise in covid-19 cases more than a month before the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The residents of Xi’an must “remain in their homes except for imperative reasons,” the authorities said in a statement in which they specified that only one person per household is allowed to go out to do the shopping “every two days.”
The city, known for its buried terracotta army, had already heavily restricted movement to contain a COVID-19 outbreak.
Xi’an reported 52 infections on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 143 since December 9.
China remains on alert for local outbreaks of covid-19 in several cities as the Beijing 2022 Winter Games approaches in February.
Xi’an began testing all of its residents on Tuesday. Some 90 residential areas were confined, although it was not specified how many people are affected by the measure.
Since Wednesday morning, Xi’an residents cannot leave the city by train without an official letter stating that travel is essential, the state CCTV network reported.
Long-distance bus terminals were closed and authorities set up disease checkpoints on the roads around Xi’an, according to the government.
More than 85% of flights to and from the city’s main airport were suspended, flight controller VariFlight said.
Within the city the maximum capacity of buses and trains was reduced and schools were closed.
China, where the coronavirus originally emerged, practically eliminated new infections since the middle of last year with a zero-covid strategy, including strong border restrictions, targeted closures and quarantines.
The southern city of Dongxing on Tuesday ordered its 200,000 residents to stay home after a single contagion was detected. (I)
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