China approached to biggest lockdown. Image Courtesy – NDTV
China is trying to control the outbreaks of COVID-19 by imposing new lockdowns. As the number of infected increases, China is bringing 13 million residents of the northern city of Xian under lockdown. The announcement came just a couple of weeks before the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The winter Olympics is to be held in February.
There was no clear word on whether Omicron or the common Delta variant was responsible. China has reported only seven identities – four in southern Guangzhou, two in the southern city of Changsha, and one in the northern port of Tianjin.
Chinese Authorities have taken strict epidemic control measures. Their goal is to bring the infection rate to zero level. This resulted in frequent lockdowns, increased public masking, and increased public scrutiny. Though the policy was not entirely successful, the spread of the virus could not be stopped as travel and trade continued throughout the country.
Xian’s ban is the toughest since 2020. People of Xian are known for their Terracotta Warriors. They are not allowed to leave the city until and unless they have approvals from corresponding officials matching with the situation.
Read: The probability of reinfection is 3 times more by Omicron
Xian reported 83 more local infections on Thursday. At present, the total number of victims is 211. Zeus Shaanxi is the capital of Shaanxi Province, a major center of industry. It is 1000 kilometers west of Beijing.
“We are not accepting any new guests and no guests are allowed to leave the hotel,” said a receptionist at Xian’s Hunting Hotel. She also told, “We have to do a test once every two days with the guests. We don’t know how long our business will be affected and how long it will last.”
Millions of tests have been conducted in the Shaanxi province of Xian. Bus stations for long-distance rout have already been closed and check-posts have been initiated on motorways towards the city. A lot of flights have been canceled from Xian’s airport.
Chinese authorities had already closed bars, gyms, cinemas, etc. as a precaution. They only mentioned the Delta variant of COVID-19 due to the restrictions. Non-essential businesses have been kept closed and the government employees have been asked to work from their homes. A government order stated that one person from each family would be allowed to buy household items every two days. The lockdown took effect at midnight on December 22, 2021, Wednesday. Nobody knows when it will unlock.
