BEIJING – A Chinese province of more than 37 million declared an “emergency state” today to snuff out a handful of Covid-19 cases, as the country moves decisively to contain infections.
China had largely brought the coronavirus under control since its emergence in Wuhan in late 2019, but recent weeks have seen smatterings of cases, prompting localised lockdowns, immediate travel restrictions and widespread testing of tens of millions of people.
More than 20 million are now under some form of lockdown in the country’s northern regions.
Today, the government of northeasten Heilongjiang declared an “emergency state”, telling residents not to leave the province unless absolutely necessary, and to cancel conferences and gatherings.
It is in response to finding 28 Covid-19 cases today, including 12 asymptomatic patients.
Suihua city in Heilongjiang – home to more than 5.2 million – was sealed off on Monday after reporting one confirmed infection and 45 asymptomatic cases.
Authorities announced today that several other small cities near Suihua will also be sealed off or placed under travel restrictions.
Other cities in the province have closed entertainment venues, reported state media.
While numbers remain small compared with many other countries, China is trying to squash infections ahead of the Lunar New Year festival next month, when hundreds of millions of people are due to travel across the country.
There are fears that the highly anticipated annual journeys, often the only chance for migrant workers to see their families, will be curtailed if clusters continue.
The National Health Commission reported 115 new infections today, with 90 more cases in a cluster in Hebei province, which surrounds the capital here.
Authorities last week launched a mass testing drive, and closed transport links, schools and shops in the Hebei city of Shijiazhuang, the epicentre of the latest outbreak.
Neighbouring Xingtai, home to seven million, has also been locked down since Friday. – AFP, January 13, 2021
