Lockdowns in China expand as COVID-19 cases reach record levels

World's most populace country, China, is reportedly extending lockdowns, including in the central city where factory workers recently clashed with police, as its COVID-19 cases hit a new record.

According to sources, people in Zhengzhou's eight districts, hoarding around 6.6 million residents, were asked to stay at home for five days starting from Thursday.

Apparently, they could only come out to buy food or get medical treatment.

In addition, daily mass testing was also ordered, which the city government called a war of annihilation against COVID-19.

As per reports, recently, Zhengzhou police had beaten up workers protesting a pay dispute at one of the most renowned factories for Apple's iPhone.

It is worth mentioning that China has recorded 31,444 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, according to the National Health Commission.

Reportedly, this number is the highest since the coronavirus detection that occurred in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.

In addition, the daily average of reported cases is on the rise.

The authorities have reported the first deaths due to COVID-19 in the last six months, rounding up 5,232 fatalities overall till today.

Although the number of cases and fatalities recorded is relatively low compared to the U.S. and other countries, China's ruling Communist Party continues to be committed to its zero-COVID strategy.

Apparently, this strategy focuses on isolating every case and eradicating the virus.

On the contrary, other governments remain dependent on ending anti-virus controls and put their faith in vaccination and immunity from earlier infections to prevent severe illness and deaths.

Furthermore, residential communities along with businesses from the manufacturing center of Guangzhou in the south to Beijing in the north have also been ordered to remain under lockdowns, measures that specifically impact blue-collar migrant workers.

In several cases, citizens claim that the restriction goes beyond what the national government allows.

Source credit - https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-beijing-covid-503f456d60db49fde9b0d49bd68a908f