China imposes closures and orders mass trials in East Coast cities amid latest wave of COVID-19 cases
BEIJING – China tightened blockades and increased orders for mass tests in East Coast cities this Wednesday amid the latest wave of COVID-19 cases.
Checks have been set up at toll stations in Putian City, Fujian Province, with a dozen of them completely closed. The nearby cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou have also restricted travel, as the delta variant extends across the region.
The National Health Commission said Wednesday that an additional 50 cases had been diagnosed in various parts of Fujian, most in the Putian region.
Since the onset of the pandemic, first detected in late 2019 in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, China has imposed strict requirements on testing, closures, quarantines and wearing masks.
Fujian has seen at least 152 new cases in recent days, prompting orders to stay home and the closure of entertainment, dining and fitness facilities, along with the cancellation of group activities, including those of the next holidays of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Long-distance bus service to other parts of the province has been suspended.
China has largely halted the spread of COVID-19, but new outbreaks continue to occur in various parts of the country. An outbreak of delta variants in July and August spread to several provinces, generating concern for the more contagious variants.
The National Health Commission says it has administered more than 2 billion doses of vaccine, although the effectiveness of serums developed nationally has been questioned, especially in the treatment of the delta variant.
Although blockades and other severe measures have affected the economy and daily life, most of the country has overcome the impact of the initial outbreak.
However, the authorities do not take any chances. The discovery of a suspicious case in Beijing’s eastern Chaoyang district prompted officials on Wednesday to ban residents of a high-rise community from leaving their apartments, according to the ruling Health Times Communist Party newspaper.
Students and teachers have also been encouraged to avoid traveling during the next three fall holidays starting on Sunday, along with the National Day holidays from October 1-7.
“Even with 91% of students and teachers vaccinated across the country, it is still recommended that students not leave their home provinces and stay on guard,” said Wang Dengfeng, head of the office. of prevention COVID-19 of the Ministry of Education. by the official China Daily.