China Covid locked down: Thousands of tourists trapped in resort town in Guangxi after closure
The city of Beihai, a popular summer vacation destination known for its white sand beaches and volcanic islands in the Guangxi region, has reported more than 500 infections in the past week – a major outbreak by standards. Chinese standard.
On Saturday, the Beihai government that locked down urban areas of the city – home to resorts and tourist attractions – ordered mass checks and banned people from leaving their homes.
The sweeping Covid restrictions also reach Weizhou Island, a remote island more than an hour away by boat, known for its beautiful beaches and coastline. Starting Friday, tourists were asked to leave the island, while hotels and guesthouses were asked to offer guests unconditional refunds.
On Sunday, Weizhou Island closed all entertainment venues, from bars, cinemas, massage parlors to swimming pools. Scenic spots across the island are also closed.
At a news conference on Sunday, local officials said more than 2,000 tourists stranded in Beihai will receive treatment based on their Covid risk: those who have not been to high-risk areas. moderate or high risk and those who have not been identified as Infected Persons in direct or secondary contact will be allowed to leave provided they can show a negative Covid test result; others will have to stay in the city and undergo quarantine.
CCTV reported that two city officials were dismissed for not taking appropriate measures to prevent the virus from spreading.
Many tourist attractions had hoped for more visitors during the summer break, but the highly contagious new subspecies of Omicron has put more pressure on local authorities to control outbreaks. of Covid.
On Sunday, China reported nearly 600 locally transmitted infections – the highest increase since May. According to the National Health Commission, at least 16 provinces nationwide have identified locally transmitted cases of Covid this month.
In Macau, the government said on Saturday that it would extend a citywide lockdown until July 22, as it struggles to contain the biggest Covid outbreak ever. of the gambling center.
Macau imposed a lockdown on July 11, shutting down casinos and banning residents from leaving their apartments, except for essential activities like grocery shopping. It has recorded about 1,700 infections since mid-June.
