Chinese city of 1.2 million people locked down after three COVID cases emerge

Chinese city of 1.2 million people locked down after three COVID cases emerge

The municipal authorities in Yuzhou in Henan province announced that all 1.2 million inhabitants will be locked down in their homes after only two asymptomatic cases were reported on Sunday, and the third locally transmitted asymptomatic infection was discovered on Monday, CNN reports.

Work is banned for all but food stores, pharmacies and energy companies, and workers are allowed to go to work after showing a negative test for COVID-19, the government said.

China reported 108 new local cases in three provinces on Monday, including 95 in the northwestern province of Shanxi, eight in southeastern Zhejiang and five in Henan, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement.

Beijing is holding on to its zero-COVID strategy ahead of the forthcoming Winter Olympics next month.

21 new local asymptomatic cases have also been confirmed in China, including 19 in Henan and two in Shanghai, the NHC said.