Covid panic sweeps China as new outbreak is ‘most complicated since start of pandemic’

But while Beijing officials scramble to contain the virus, with 962 new infections, up from 621 a day earlier, other regions are also finding it difficult to limit the spread.  Zhengzhou in central Henan province to Chongqing in the southwest have also reported high numbers of local cases, while Guangzhou in southern China ordered a five-day lockdown for its most populous district. 

The Chaoyang district of Beijing, which has a population of 3.5 million people, has also called on residents to stay home and has moved schools online. People are also being urged to work from home, while shops apart from those selling groceries mostly appear shut.

Jia Xi, 32, a medical industry salesman, told Reuters: “You can’t go anywhere. Everything’s closed. Customers cannot come, either. What can you do? You can do nothing.”

While China has an overall vaccination rate of over 92 percent who have received at least one dose, that number is far smaller among the elderly, especially those aged over 80, where it is only 65 percent. The total official toll to 5,227 in the capital has now reached 5,227, following the first recorded deaths from the virus since May. 

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Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1699341/covid-outbreak-china-beijing-lockdown-coronavirus-health-officials