135 COVID-19 Cases Reported in Southern Fujian Province, China... Major Tourist Sites Closed

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In Fujian Province in southern China, 135 new COVID-19 cases were reported at once, causing health authorities to become highly alert. Especially with the upcoming long holidays of the Mid-Autumn Festival, China’s traditional Chuseok, followed by National Day, concerns are rising about a nationwide spread as a large number of cases have been reported in Xiamen, a major tourist destination in Fujian Province.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 14th, the National Health Commission of China announced that 60 new cases were confirmed across Fujian Province on that day, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 135 since the 10th. The outbreak began in Xiamen, one of China’s key tourist spots, raising fears of a nationwide spread centered around tourists who visited Xiamen.

A tourist from Putian, Fujian Province, who was confirmed positive on the 12th, was found to have caused 32 new cases among his factory colleagues within a day. Xiamen, located along the Taiwan Strait coast, is a popular resort destination in China, attracting over 3 million visitors during the Labor Day holiday in May.

Chinese authorities are anxious about the possibility of more cases emerging in Fujian Province during the consecutive holidays of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. Xiamen health authorities have quarantined close contacts and intensified nucleic acid testing, while also imposing lockdown measures on areas related to confirmed cases. All elementary, middle, and high school students have been suspended from attending school in person and switched to online classes, and large-scale events have been banned. Additionally, intercity bus services have been suspended, and residents have been urged to avoid leaving Xiamen if possible.

Alongside Xiamen, Putian in Fujian Province, another major outbreak site, reported 24 new cases the previous day. Notably, Putian has seen the first mass infections among elementary school students in China. Since vaccinations for children under 12 have not yet been administered, there are concerns that the number of confirmed cases will increase further in the coming days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.