Millions Under Lockdown As China Battles Delta Outbreak

Beijing: China is trying to contain its largest coronavirus outbreak with 55 new locally transmitted cases on Monday as an outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta variant reached over 20 cities in more than a dozen provinces. Millions of people are confined to their homes. Seven positive tests were found in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in late 2019.

The Wuhan cluster came after the official daily tally was released, but it was confirmed by state media which said the infections had been traced to a train station.

“The seven were identified as migrant workers,” News 18 reported citing Xinhua.

Major cities including Beijing have now tested millions of residents while cordoning off residential compounds and placing close contacts under quarantine.

Over 1.2 million residents were placed under strict lockdown for the next three days in the central city of Zhuzhou in Hunan province Monday, as authorities roll out a citywide testing and vaccination campaign, according to an official statement.

“The situation is still grim and complicated,” the Zhuzhou government was quoted as saying.

Beijing has blocked tourists from entering the capital during the peak summer holiday travel season. Top city officials on Sunday called for residents “not to leave Beijing unless necessary”.