Over 1 million people affected as city enforces strict measures in response to rising Covid-19 concerns.
Yuzhou, a city in Henan Province, China, has been placed under lockdown after detecting just three asymptomatic Covid-19 cases over a two-day period. The lockdown, which affects more than 1 million residents, was officially announced on January 3 and took effect that night, according to Chinese state-controlled media.
This measure follows China’s strict “zero-Covid” strategy, aimed at preventing the spread of the virus through targeted lockdowns and extensive testing. As of now, nearly 679,000 residents in Yuzhou have already been tested for Covid-19, with more likely to follow as part of ongoing containment efforts.
The lockdown comes less than two weeks after Xi’an, another major city, implemented its own lockdown on December 23 after detecting 127 cases, which has since escalated to more than 1,600 cases in a recent wave.
China’s strategy, which includes strict border controls, extended quarantine periods, and localized lockdowns, is particularly focused on ensuring the safety of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 4-20, 2022.
