Xian’s outbreak drives China’s daily Covid cases to 21-month high
Beijing, Dec 26 (EFE).- A coronavirus outbreak in the northwestern Chinese city of Xian, under strict lockdown for days, on Sunday skyrocketed the daily count in China to a 21-month high despite strict prevention measures.
The capital of the Shaanix province accounts for 155 of 158 fresh infections reported on Sunday by the national health commission. Since 9 November, Xian has detected 485 cases.
The Delta-driven wave gains momentum a little over a month before Beijing’s Winter Olympics, which the Chinese government is determined to go ahead with at all costs.
Therefore, the Chinese capital tightened up the preventive measures on Friday, asking its inhabitants not to leave the city, unless for essential reasons, not even during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
The curbs also limit the number of people allowed in private gatherings to 10, among other restrictions.
Having conducted three rounds of massive tests, the Xian authorities do not rule out that more positives will be confirmed in the coming days, He Wenquan, a senior municipal government official said at a presser today.
On Friday, official media reported that 26 people and four committees of the Chinese Communist Party were sanctioned for their alleged responsibility in the outbreak.
Since last Thursday, the Xian residents are under lockdown with schools closed and mandatory working from home.
Only one person per family is allowed to go out every other day to buy food and other basic goods.
In case of a strict need to leave the city, residents must first obtain certificates approved by local authorities and prove a negative test.
The Xian Xianyang International Airport has canceled the domestic operations and rail connections have also been suspended. EFE
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