Chengdu streets deserted as China locks down 21 million people amid COVID-19 spike
The streets in Chengdu were largely deserted on Saturday, after the city ordered its 21 million residents to stay at home this week following a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The streets in Chengdu were largely deserted on Saturday, after the city ordered its 21 million residents to stay at home this week following a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The start of the new school term has been delayed, although public transport continues to operate and citizens are permitted to leave the city if they can show a special need.
All businesses, apart from pharmacies and supermarkets have been shut down. Restaurants were offering only delivery service.
Under the rules announced Thursday, just one member of each family who can show a negative virus test within the past 24 hours is allowed out per day to buy necessities.
No word was issued on when the lockdown would be lifted.
Chengdu has reported around 1,000 cases in the latest outbreak and no deaths from the latest round of domestic transmission, but China has clung to the extreme “zero-COVID policy” over the pandemic.
The policy has been challenged by the highly infectious omicron variant with authorities taking more frequent measures of lockdown, including business closures and mass testing.
