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China has put millions of citizens back under lockdown in the wake of the new Covid-19 outbreak, authorities report, as the government sticks to its tough policies to contain the virus.
The measures affected about half of the port city of Dalian’s 6 million residents, as well as undisclosed numbers in the cities of Chengde and Shijiazhuang in Hebei province, about three hours’ drive from the capital Beijing.
The lockdown in Dalian will last for five days, although authorities have extended restrictions in the past based on the number of new cases.
Beijing has so far been relatively unaffected, although people are discouraged from entering and leaving the capital and residents are being tested almost daily.
Cities such as Chengdu in the southwest, Shenyang in the northeast and Jishui in the southeast have also imposed partial lockdowns.
The measures are mandated by China’s “zero-coronavirus” policy, which contrasts with other countries coexisting with the virus through measures such as gradual easing of restrictions, vaccinations, improved treatment and voluntary quarantines.
China has essentially closed its borders to foreign tourists, while requiring those who do come to quarantine for more than a week in hotels with often poor sanitation.
Mask-wearing and regular testing are also standard, and anyone found to have been in close contact with someone confirmed to have the virus will be forced to a field hospital.
The World Health Organization has called China’s policies unsustainable, and a Chinese think tank on Monday issued a rare public dissent with the ruling Communist Party, saying restrictions that shut cities and disrupt trade, tourism and industry must change to prevent “economic problems”. files”.
The Anbang Research Center did not provide details on what might change, but said President Xi Jinping’s government needed to focus on propping up sinking growth.
It noted that the U.S., Europe and Japan are recovering after easing restrictions to fight the virus.
“Preventing the risk of economic stagnation should be the top priority,” the think tank said in a report titled “It’s Time for China to Adjust Virus Prevention and Control Policies.”
Previous lockdowns have seen tens of millions of people confined to their homes, sometimes for weeks.
Earlier this year, Shanghai’s largest city and business center imposed a strict lockdown, sparking online and in-person protests against a lack of food and medical services.
China reported 1,717 locally transmitted cases on Tuesday, including 52 in Liaoning province, where Dalian is located.
Most of the cases were reported in Sichuan province, the provincial capital, Chengdu, and the vast majority of cases were asymptomatic.
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