China’s Xian blocks 13 million population as COVID-19 cases increase by Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Xian has imposed strict restrictions on outbound travel and intra-city travel, blocking its 13 millionth population as a new COVID-19 outbreak sees greater community cases.

The daily number of home-transmitted COVID-19 infections confirmed by Xian’s symptoms has increased for six consecutive days since December 17.

This brings the number of local cases to more than 200 from December 9 to 22, less than many outbreaks outside of China. No infection caused by the Omicron variant has been detected in Xian.

Consistent with Beijing’s stance on the inability to allow emissions to spread, Xian has made it difficult for residents to get out.

Those wishing to travel outside the city must provide a negative COVID-19 prior to departure and obtain permission from employers or community-level authorities.

The city council has banned long-distance bus services and banned taxis and cars rented from platforms for travel outside the city, and sent police to deter those planning to leave the motorway exits.

Live videos provided by local traffic police on social media showed that parts of the Xian highway were almost empty.

From Thursday onwards, only one person per household in Xian can go shopping every two days, while the rest of the family must stay at home if they do not have the necessary jobs.

According to data provided by Variflight, all domestic flights to Xian, scheduled for Thursday, have been canceled. Flights to Xian departing for Friday are still available, as evidenced by online travel booking apps.

The council has conducted at least two massive tests.

Other local regions, such as Sichuan Province and Chongqing City, demanded that people who had just visited Xian stay in quarantine for up to 14 days so that they could travel freely.

China’s main COVID-19 appearances in 2021

To view the chart, click here: https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/CHINA/dwpkrerrdvm/chart.png

As of Wednesday, mainland China had confirmed a total of 71 local symptomatic cases, including 63 in Xian, according to a note from the National Health Commission.

There were no new deaths, leaving the national death toll at 4,636.

Mainland China reported 100,644 cases as of Dec. 22, including those found among local and international travelers.