Covid China, contagion boom is feared in Xi’an: 13 million in lockdown

Lockdown for Xi’an. The authorities of the Chinese city with 13 million inhabitants have ordered new measures to contain the infections from Covid-19. Today’s bulletin of the National Health Commission reported by the Xinhua agency reports 57 new cases of local transmission of Covid-19 for the whole Asian giant – 53 of which in the northwestern province of Shanxi, where Xi’an is located – in addition to 20 cases’ imported ‘and 19 related to asymptomatic patients. According to official data, 149 cases of local transmission of the coronavirus have been ascertained in Shaanxi province since December 9, 143 of which in Xi’an, from the next few hours in lockdown to limit entry and exit from the city, with inhabitants allowed to leave homes only for “essential reasons”. Meanwhile, mass testing for the population continues. Since the start of the pandemic, China – which insists on the “zero infection” strategy and is preparing to host the Winter Olympics – has confirmed 100,544 cases of Covid-19 and 4,636 deaths.