Millions of tests in a Chinese city due to the increase in Corona virus cases

First Amendment: 12/21/2021 – 08:32Last update: 12/21/2021 – 08:30

China, where the virus emerged two years ago, has almost completely eliminated infections from the middle of the previous year with strict border restrictions and robust minimal infection detection measures.

However, the emergence of the delta variant months ago has hampered Beijing’s “zero-Covid” strategy, with small but frequent outbreaks appearing in different cities of the country.

The historic northwestern city of Xi’an of 13 million people reported 42 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections from December 9 to 91, according to figures from the provincial health commission.

Local authorities closed schools and indoor recreation centers and encouraged residents to avoid going out and gathering in large groups. In addition, millions of virus are being screened to contain the spread.

The museum that houses the famous Terracotta Army, a 2,000-year-old mausoleum of the first Chinese emperor, said in a statement that it closed its doors on Sunday “in accordance with the needs of the epidemic prevention work.”

The caution of Chinese authorities in the face of any case of the virus was dire ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February and the celebration of the Lunar New Year, with several trips across the country.

© 2021 AFP