Guangzhou Airport Closed... China Struggling with COVID-19

Domestic Flights Suspended at Baiyun International Airport Until the 30th
Shanghai Port Daily Container Throughput at 75% of Usual Levels

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, has been closed, and 31 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions across China are suffering from the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The container handling capacity at Shanghai Port has dropped to 75% of the usual level. Guangzhou and Shanghai, the top economic hubs in China, are struggling with the aftereffects of COVID-19 infections.

According to Chinese media including Jeil Jaegyeong on the 29th, Baiyun International Airport, the gateway to Guangzhou City in Guangdong Province, has been temporarily closed until the 30th. Domestic flights were suspended from that day until the 30th after three airport resident employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention explained that three infections were confirmed during routine nucleic acid (PCR) testing at the airport, leading to the temporary suspension of domestic flights. On that day, four infected individuals (including one asymptomatic case) were confirmed in Guangzhou City. As of the 27th, the cancellation rate at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport was reported to be as high as 75.5%.

Shanghai, now in its fourth week of lockdown, is in a much more severe situation. The cancellation rates at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Pudong Airport are 99.7% and 96.9%, respectively, effectively rendering the airports non-functional.

Shanghai Yangshan Port, the world's number one port, is also operating abnormally. In April, the average daily container throughput at Shanghai Port was recorded at 100,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent units), which is only 75% of the usual level.

Huanqiu Shibao, citing experts, reported that Shanghai Port is extremely congested, with about 60% of maritime and air cargo stuck. It further explained that the congestion is mainly due to problems in land transportation, such as a shortage of container truck drivers and road traffic jams.

Huanqiu Shibao emphasized that although the authorities have taken various measures, including issuing nationwide integrated vehicle permits, to normalize Shanghai's maritime logistics from May, it is expected that more time will be needed before full normalization.

Meanwhile, the National Health Commission of China (NHC) announced that the cumulative number of infections since April is 553,000. Most notably, infectious diseases have been confirmed in 261 cities across 31 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions, exposing the entire Chinese mainland to Omicron.

Wu Liangyou, Deputy Director of the Disease Control and Prevention Bureau at the NHC, stated, "Compared to March, the infectious disease situation has improved, but it remains serious."

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