New COVID-19 Cases in China Reach 876... Sanhe City Near Beijing Locked Down

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period, the number of new COVID-19 infections in China showed a declining trend, avoiding concerns of a 'holiday super-spread.' This is attributed to the quarantine authorities' recommendations to refrain from travel during the holiday and lockdowns in some cities.

According to the National Health Commission of China on the 13th, 876 new infections (727 asymptomatic) were reported nationwide the previous day. This marks a two-day consecutive drop to triple digits following 913 cases on the 11th. The daily new confirmed cases in China fell from four digits to three digits for the first time in over a month since August 9 (929 cases) last month.

By region, the number of infections was 208 in Xizang, 181 in Sichuan, and 145 in Guizhou. Beijing reported 15 new infections, of which 14 were from Beijing University of Chemical Technology Changping Campus (1) and Chuanmei (傳媒) University (13). Both Beijing University of Chemical Technology and Chuanmei University have been closed since the 6th and 9th, respectively, due to COVID-19 spread.

The decrease in infections is attributed to the quarantine authorities' recommendations to refrain from returning to hometowns during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday (October 10-12) and to stay in the current city. In Beijing, a policy was also implemented that if one leaves the city or family members leave during the holiday, they should not attend school for seven days. According to China Central (CC) TV, during this holiday period, the number of public transportation users in China was 66,957,000, down 38% from the previous year, and daily train passengers decreased by 39.2% to 5,318,000.

Sanhe City in Hebei Province, a satellite city near Beijing, decided to lock down the city for three days starting today. This is because COVID-19 testing personnel in Sanhe City, with a population of 960,000, were confirmed to have come into contact with infected individuals. Accordingly, all roads and bus stops entering and leaving the city are controlled, and all passenger routes, taxis, and buses will not operate. Workplaces and manufacturing plants will also halt. Earlier, Ku'erle City in Xinjiang announced a one-week city lockdown starting the previous day. Dalian in Liaoning Province has been controlling five downtown districts at lockdown level since the 30th of last month. Beijing announced not to visit areas where community infections have occurred within a week, and some cities such as Shenyang in Liaoning Province suspended intercity bus operations.

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