China locks down Xi’an, city of 13 million, over small Covid outbreak

China has put a city of 13 million people into lockdown in an effort to contain a relatively small Covid outbreak.

China has put a city of 13 million people into lockdown in an effort to contain a relatively small Covid outbreak.

Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province, recorded 143 new cases of the virus between December 9 and Tuesday of this week, prompting the municipal government to impose the stringent restrictions. A further 63 infections were reported today.

It is believed to be the Delta variant, not the more recent Omicron strain.

Under the strict rules, each household is allowed to send one person out every two days to buy necessary products like groceries. Anyone else must remain at home, with an exception for essential workers.

Many businesses have been instructed to shut down, dining is banned inside restaurants and large events are also prohibited.

Anyone seeking to leave the city must test negative for Covid and obtain a special clearance. Even then, it isn’t easy, as long-distance bus services are suspended, and taxis are not allowed to take trips out of the city. Police are stationed on the highways.

The rules have been imposed indefinitely.

An apartment and shopping complex in Xi’an. Picture: Zhou Wei/The Wall Street Journal

A medical worker conducting a Covid test in Xi’an on December 20. Picture: AFP

The streets of the city are largely empty. Picture: AFP

Officially, China has recorded just over 100,000 cases and 4600 deaths throughout the pandemic, though questions about the accuracy of that data have persisted since as long ago as April of 2020.

The country has a zero-Covid policy, which involves swiftly locking down cities or regions when the virus is detected.

We saw an example of that policy in action in November, when nearly 34,000 people at Shanghai Disneyland were locked in to undergo mandatory Covid testing. A positive Covid case had been detected during the holiday destination’s Halloween festivities.

Police blocked the theme park’s exits and secured the grounds as hazmat-clad workers entered to conduct the tests. All visitors were locked in until close to midnight before being shipped home on more than 200 buses.

Shanghai Disney did not offer any detailed explanation for the shutdown at the time, merely confirming it was “co-operating with the pandemic investigation”.

Other instances have seen a cumulative four million people endure lockdowns, across 11 of China’s provinces.

As part of China’s approach to Covid, those deemed to have failed in controlling Covid are often dismissed from their posts or punished.

China is due to host the world’s top athletes at the Winter Olympics in February, adding another wrinkle to the current situation.