China says “positive changes” as COVID’s case eases in Xi’an | Coronavirus pandemic News

New cases in the blocked city fall to a one-week low as residents face a sharp 11-day home confinement.

The new COVID-19 cases blocked by the Chinese in Xi’an have dropped to a one-week low as residents face a sharp shutdown in the face of the eleventh day.

China has followed a “zero-COVID” approach, including drastic border restrictions and swift and targeted blockades since the virus first appeared in a central city in late 2019.

However, this strategy has put pressure on many local appearances and cases in recent weeks.

On Sunday, 122 new infections were reported in the northern historic city – the lowest since December 25, and below 174 on Saturday.

Zhang Canyou, a Chinese disease control agency, told the state-run CCTV broadcaster that after conducting several tests in Xi’an and imposing a blockade, they began to see “some positive changes.”

“We will also make some adjustments to prevention and control measures in a timely manner,” he said.

However, 16 patients are in “serious” condition, according to the National Health Commission.

Despite the low numbers compared to other places, new infections have reached a level not seen in China in recent days since March 2020.

There have been more than 1,500 cases of Delta strain in Xi’an since Dec. 9, and health officials said at a news conference on Saturday that two patients are in critical condition.

China has not reported any deaths as a result of COVID-19 since January 2021.

Blocked residents of Xi’an said this week that they are struggling to find enough food, and local officials have asked residents to “understand and tolerate” them while trying to organize supplies.

Seven cases were also reported on Sunday in the eastern city of Ningbo, where a small cluster has been linked to a clothing factory.

All flights from the city to the capital Beijing were canceled, state media reported.