China Shuts Down Amidst Panic Over Recent COVID Outbreak

BEIJING: China recorded a fifth consecutive day of new cases emerging, causing authorities to increase the COVID-19 measure once again. Beijing has kept up a vigilant zero-Covid campaign with strict border closures and lockdowns targeting specific areas.

The latest outbreak came to light due to an elderly tourist couple. Shanghai was first affected, followed by Xi’an, Gansu province and Inner Mongolia. Many cases have since been traced to this couple travelling in at least five regions, including Beijing, with other tourist groups.

Local governments responded to this alarming situation by rolling out mass testing while they closed tourist sites, education centres and also locked down certain residential compounds.

With four million people in its vicinity, Lanzhou has told residents not to leave their premises unless necessary. Those who will need a mandatory negative Covid-19 test.

Airports in affected provinces have even cancelled hundreds of flights, according to tracker data. It is estimated that around 60 per cent of flights to Xi’an and Lanzhou have been halted.

While other countries have eased restrictions given the declining Covid cases and deaths, China has maintained a strict policy to tackle any spikes in the novel virus with prompt lockdowns and border control.