Cases Of COVID-19 Infection Again Increased, A Number Of Big Cities In China Increased Anticipation Steps

Illustration of a COVID-19 test in China. (Wikimedia Commons/Shuwangtiman)

JAKARTA - Shanghai and other major Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, are increasing COVID-19 testing as infection cases rise, with some local authorities closing schools, entertainment venues, and tourist attractions.

Infections have risen to their highest level since August, with the increase occurring following increased domestic travel during the National Day's 'Golden Week' earlier this month.

Authorities reported 2,089 new local infections for October 10, the largest since August 20.

While many cases were found at tourist destinations, including beautiful spots in the northern region of Inner Mongolia, major cities that are often the source of well-traveling tourists began reporting more cases this week.

Shanghai, a city of 25 million people, reported 28 local cases for October 10, the fourth day of double-digit gain.

Want to avoid a repeat of the economic and physical lockdowns in April-May, Shanghai said on Monday evening, all 16 districts there would conduct mass testing at least twice a week to November 10, up from before once a week.

Examinations on incoming and in places such as hotels must also be strengthened, authorities said. The widespread network of actions has ensnared several people.

Peter Lee, an expatriate of the UK who has been having lunch with his wife and seven-year-old son last week when he was told his apartment block was about to be locked.

Lee and his son then checked in to a hotel, which was immediately locked, due to an earlier visit by the virus carrier. Lee's wife, who plans to join them, had no choice but to return home for the lockdown.

"Maybe we say, we miss home and we miss mom too much and maybe we just go home and deal with it," Lee told Reuters, as quoted October 12.

"We are monitoring the situation because it looks like Shanghai is gradually closing and if everything starts to shut down then there won't be much benefit to being able to come and go," he continued.

On Monday, 36 Chinese cities were below levels of lockdown or control, affecting about 196.9 million people, compared to 179.7 million the previous week, according to Nomura.

In China's southern tech hub, Shenzhen, where the highly contagious subvariant BF.7 Omicron has emerged, local cases have more than tripled to 33 on October 10 from the previous day.

Entrepreneurs who enter will undergo three tests for three days, authorities in the city of 18 million people said Tuesday.

While in the northwestern city of Xian, which reported more than 100 cases from October 1-10, authorities suspended offline classes at schools and closed many public spaces, including the famous Terracotta Soldier Museum.

The daily shuttle buses carrying tens of thousands of people to work in Beijing from Tianjin and Hebei will be suspended from Wednesday, as they increase cases of COVID-19.

Although China's caseload is very small compared to the rest of the world, the government has repeatedly urged people to accept restrictions.

COVID-19 precautions came days ahead of the Communist Party congress which began on October 16, where President Xi Jinping is expected to extend his leadership.

"The latest rise of strict COVID-19 restrictions is likely to be temporary, given the priority of keeping things under control ahead of a very important meeting," said analyst from US alternative asset management firm Clockpower Group.