More

    Virus lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou

    spot_img

    BEIJING — A surge in Covid-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, adding to financial pressure that has disrupted global supply chains and sharply slowed growth in the world’s second-largest economy.

    Residents in districts encompassing almost 5 million people have been ordered to stay home at least through Sunday, with one member of each family allowed out once per day to purchase necessities, local authorities said Wednesday.

    The order came after the densely populated city of 13 million reported more than 2,500 new cases over the previous 24 hours. Public transport has been suspended and classes halted across much of Guangzhou, while flights to Beijing and other major cities have been canceled, according to state media.

    China has retained its strict “zero-Covid” policy despite relatively low case numbers and no new deaths.

    The country’s borders remain largely closed and internal travel and trade is fraught with ever-changing quarantine regulations.

    The tight restrictions have set off occasional clashes between residents and local Communist Party officials, who are threatened with punishment if reported cases in their areas of jurisdiction climb above levels deemed acceptable.

    The party under the leadership of President Xi Jinping has dismissed calls from the United Nations’ World Health Organization to ease regulations, refused to import foreign vaccines and defied requests to release more information about the source of the virus, which was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.

    Source link

    Share

    All countries
    704,753,890
    Total confirmed cases
    Updated on May 20, 2025 5:04 am
    Italy
    26,723,249
    Total confirmed cases
    Updated on May 20, 2025 5:04 am
    Spain
    13,914,811
    Total confirmed cases
    Updated on May 20, 2025 5:04 am
    Iran
    7,627,186
    Total confirmed cases
    Updated on May 20, 2025 5:04 am
    Germany
    38,828,995
    Total confirmed cases
    Updated on May 20, 2025 5:04 am

    Latest Updates

    Frequently Asked Questions

    spot_img

    Related Articles

    CIA shifts assessment on Covid origins, saying lab leak likely caused outbreak

    The CIA said Saturday it has shifted its previous assessments and has concluded that...

    Will they arrive in time to combat the surge?

    With Covid cases surging this summer, the upcoming rollout of updated vaccines in the...

    Why there’s no test yet for long Covid

    Long Covid continues to evade a clear diagnostic test, researchers reported in a study...

    Symptoms of long Covid present differently in children and teens, study finds

    Millions of U.S. children have had long Covid, estimates suggest, but less is known...