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China expands lockdowns as COVID cases soar to daily record high | World News


China has stepped up COVID restrictions and lockdowns as the country’s daily number of infections surges to a record high.

On Wednesday, it recorded 31,444 new COVID-19 case – exceeds the previous peak in April when Shanghai is under a city-wide blockade for two months.

This is also the highest daily number since the virus was first detected in the central Chinese city. Wuhan by the end of 2019.

The new crackdown comes as its no-COVID policy continues to spark protests – including in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, where there have been Clashes at a giant Foxconn factory that produces iPhones.

Even a pledge of a bonus increase did not keep workers from leaving the site, frustrated because COVID roadside.

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Protests at China iPhone factory

Apple said it has employees at the plant and is “working closely with Foxconn to ensure their employees’ concerns are addressed”.

In the rare scenes of public dissent in ChinaProtests have flared up across the country as the number and severity of outbreaks increase.

Authorities in Zhengzhou have announced a five-day lockdown that includes mass testing in eight of the city’s districts, the latest to resume daily testing for millions of people.

Its 6.6 million residents have been asked to stay home, except to buy food and medicine.

Beijing residents have been informed that they must prove they are negative for COVID to enter any public building after the number of infections spiked.

Officials in the Chinese capital said evidence of a negative Coronavirus Checks within the previous 48 hours are now required to enter shopping malls, hotels, government buildings and factories.

Restrictions have also been increased in the port cities of Guangzhou and Shijiazhuang in northern China.

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China angrily overturns the car to protest against COVID

Beijing, along with several other cities, pledged to ease strict lockdown restrictions earlier this month.

But with the first three of China COVID-related deaths in the six months reported this week – bringing the total to 5,232 and cases are still growing, more stringent measures are being reimposed.

The country’s number of COVID-19 cases is still small by global standards, and some believe strict pandemic restrictions are holding back the world’s second-largest economy and are becoming increasingly out of sync. with the rest of the world.

But China’s leadership has stood by its strategy, which includes some of the strictest restrictions in the world, saying it needs to save lives and prevent the health system from becoming overwhelmed.

A security guard wearing protective gear stands guard at the entrance to a neighborhood in Beijing.  Photo: AP
Picture:
A security guard wearing protective gear stands guard at the entrance to a neighborhood in Beijing. Photo: AP

Read more:
Beijing is basically locked down but the authorities won’t use that word
Not giving up on China’s COVID-free stance

The strict no-COVID policy has seen millions of residents confined to their homes, subject to mass testing programs and subject to sudden lockdowns – in areas where positive cases have been detected. with coronavirus or their close contacts.

In August, authorities tried to prevent shoppers from leaving an Ikea store in the Xuhui district. Shanghai after a customer was found to have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.

Last month, the Shanghai Disney Resort became the latest major venue to close its gates – locking down all visitors and only allowing them to leave a few hours after they’ve tested negative for the virus.

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