Authorities in the southwestern Chinese city of Baise have ordered residents to stay home from Monday and avoid unnecessary travel, while enforcing measures that are among the strictest in the country to fight against the growing local infections of COVID -19.
The outbreak in Baise, which has a population of about 3.6 million and borders Vietnam, is minuscule by world standards, but restriction measures, including a ban on non-essential travel in and out , follow a national guideline to quickly contain any outbreak.
The effort takes on added urgency during the Winter Olympics, which begin Friday and run through Feb. 20, as well as during the busy Lunar New Year holiday travel season.
Dozens of athletes at the Games, which are taking place in the capital Beijing and in the northern province of Hebei, have tested positive and been isolated, but the events have not been seriously affected.
In Baise, Guangxi region, there were 99 cases of domestic transmission with confirmed symptoms between Saturday and noon Monday, Pang Jun, deputy director of the regional health commission, told a news conference. Two people are affected by the omicron variant, Pang added.
At least ten provinces, regions and municipalities in mainland China have detected locally transmitted omicron infections, but the total number is unclear.
Residents should stay home except when shopping for necessities or getting tested for COVID – 19, and should opt for home delivery over shopping in stores when possible, state television said, citing a local government statement.
Non-essential businesses, public transport and school sessions have also been suspended and the opening of crossings along the international border has been delayed. Essential workers will need special passes to travel within Baise.
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