Covid: 'Strict restrictions' again in many Chinese cities as infections rise

Chinese authorities have reimposed strict restrictions in many cities from Wuhan in the central region to Xining in the northwest as infections of the deadly coronavirus continue to rise.

Building after building has been sealed off to prevent the spread of the outbreak, as several districts have been declared locked down, the suffering of millions of people in these cities has increased, according to Reuters.

On Thursday, for the third day in a row, the Chinese authorities reported receiving more than 1,000 new Covid patients across the country.


Earlier this year, the country imposed a strict lockdown in the key city of Shanghai as thousands of cases were detected a day.

Although the daily number of confirmed cases across China is not as high as it was then, it is considered enough by the authorities to impose further restrictions and bans in various parts of the country.

The number of Covid-19 patients detected in China so far is less than that of many countries in the world, but the sudden and very strict measures taken by the country to deal with the more infectious micron of the coronavirus this year have also put pressure on the world's second largest economy.


Authorities in Guangzhou, which has seen a four-week resurgence of infections, sealed more roads and high-risk areas on Thursday and ordered thousands to stay indoors.

Guangzhou, the fourth largest city in China in terms of economic output, is the capital of Guangdong Province.

"Many of my friends and colleagues are in lockdown at home. The situation is still volatile. Lockdown in many areas. Classes are closed, entertainment venues are also closed for the time being. The gym I used to go to regularly is also closed,” said Lily Li, a 28-year-old resident of Guangzhou.

As of Monday, a total of 28 Chinese cities were under varying degrees of lockdown restrictions, with a combined population of about 207.7 million and controlling about 25.6 trillion yuan of China's GDP. This figure is about a quarter of China's 2021 GDP.