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Covid in China: 'Tough measures' as cases spikes

Tens of millions of people across the country face restrictions, including the entire Jilin province, where many of the latest Covid cases were reported.

Covid-19 infections in China have risen to the sort of levels not seen since the start of the pandemic and drastic measures are being imposed in China. On Tuesday, China reported a record high of more than 5,000 cases. Tens of millions of people across the country face restrictions, including the entire Jilin province, where many of the cases were reported. All 24 million residents of the north-eastern province were placed under quarantine orders on Monday.

It is the first time China has restricted an entire province since the Wuhan and Hebei lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. Multinational companies have halted some operations as China widens its Covid lockdowns.

Robin Brant says that the government believes infections are entering China via people coming in from abroad, some unaware they have Covid. New arrivals have to quarantine, but the authorities have blamed lax management at these facilities for the outbreaks.

The province of Jilin has been completely sealed off, and residents have been banned from moving around unless they have permission from the police. In Shanghai, there is no lockdown, but the schools are closed and people are working from home, with some compounds introducing 'closed loop management' with only residents allowed access and deliveries left at the gate.

Photo: A worker in PPE works outside a tent as residents coming to get tested for Covid-19 in the snow in Jilin province, China Credit: Getty Images

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