China has ordered a lockdown on the northeastern city of Changchun inhabited by nine million people, following a fresh spike in COVID-19 cases in the area.
This decision was taken after 397 fresh cases of COVID were reported on Friday. Of these, 98 were reported from Jilin province surrounding Changchun.
Residents here have been advised to remain indoor and undergo three rounds of mass testing. At the same time, non-essential businesses have been closed and transport links suspended.
Two cases were detected within the city itself. Authorities have repeatedly pledged to lock down any community where one or more cases are found under China’s “zero tolerance” approach to the pandemic.
Another 93 cases were found in the nearby city of Jilin that bears the same name as the surrounding province. Authorities have already ordered a partial lockdown in the city and severed travel links with other cities.
