After A Week, China Has Again Reported The Biggest Spike In COVID-19 Cases In The Past Five Months

Illustration of a Chinese citizen crossing a deserted area using a mask. (Macau Photo Agency / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - China has again recorded an increase in positive daily cases of COVID-19 in the last five months. This increase occurred again in the Hebei Province.

In addition, a district in northeastern Heilongjiang Province has returned to lockdown after reporting cases of new coronavirus infection.

In the report, it was stated that Hebei Province contributed 82 cases of COVID-19 infection from 85 reports of new infections on January 10, as reported by the National Health Commission (NHC). The report also said there were two new cases in Liaoning Province and one new case in Beijing, as well as 18 new cases imported from abroad.

In total there are 103 daily positive case reports of COVID-19, or the highest since 127 cases in July 2020. Previously, last week China also recorded a daily number of positive COVID-19 cases as many as 63 daily cases and this was the highest in the last five months, as reported by Reuters.

The authorities immediately took aggressive steps to prevent the spread of infection, as well as prevent a national wave of infections.

Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei Province, which is the new epicenter of the spread of the virus, has been isolated. The city's public transportation has been suspended. People and vehicles are prohibited from leaving the city while the isolation is in place.

The Hebei Highway Authority said a number of roads in the province were also closed. Meanwhile, vehicles from Shijiazhuang and Xingtai were asked to return to the city.

Separately, the authorities of Suihua City, Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province reported eight new asymptomatic cases. The authorities immediately limit the activities of citizens. All non-essential businesses must close.

Non-essential vehicle traffic is blocked, and residents are also prohibited from leaving the city. Only one person from each family can go out to buy necessities of life every three days.

With this new report, China's total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 87,536. Meanwhile, the number of deaths remains at 4,634.