China is the latest major economy to adhere to a zero-Covid policy, stamping out outbreaks of the virus with early shutdowns, mass testing and long-term quarantines. Chengdu, in the southwest, became the latest city to announce a shutdown, saying in an official statement that residents should “stay at home as a matter of principle” from 6pm on Thursday to fight a new wave of infections. Each household will be allowed to send one person out to buy groceries and basic goods a day, provided they have tested negative in the previous 24 hours, the notification said. He said all residents would be tested for the virus between Thursday and Sunday and urged them not to leave the city unless “absolutely necessary.” “The current epidemic control situation is abnormal, complicated and gloomy,” the statement said, adding that the measures are aimed at “resolutely curbing the spread of the epidemic and guaranteeing the health of all citizens.” Chengdu recorded 157 new local infections on Thursday, of which 51 showed no symptoms, the city government said in a separate statement. Children in at least 10 cities and provinces are facing problems in China’s new academic year as pandemic controls force schools to turn to measures including online learning, state media reported Thursday. Xining, the capital of western Qinghai province and home to 2.5 million people, ordered schools to hold classes online, conducted mass testing and told residents in its main urban area to work from home for three days. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. China’s southern hub Shenzhen said new virus restrictions would come into effect from 6pm on Thursday in the Nanshan district, home to the headquarters of tech giants Tencent and ZTE. The region’s government said it ordered the closure of entertainment venues, including bars, cinemas and karaoke clubs, and began requiring residents to have a recent negative Covid test to enter their residences. China has stuck to its zero-tolerance virus strategy despite disruptions from the rapidly spreading Omicron variant and concern that the approach is stifling its post-pandemic economic recovery. Last month, travelers in the southern island province of Hainan protested after more than 80,000 tourists were stranded in a resort town due to the Covid outbreak. Social media videos from the eastern metropolis of Shanghai showed panicked crowds leaving an Ikea store and another building as officials tried to impose local lockdowns in response to two suspected cases.
