China Orders City Of Entire 13million Population To Stay Indoors

The northern Chinese city of Xi’an on Wednesday ordered all 13 million residents to stay home in a strict lockdown, as concern grows over a fresh outbreak of Covid-19.

All households may only ‘send one household member outside once every two days to purchase necessities,’ with all others ordered to remain indoors except for emergencies, the city government said in a statement on its official Weibo social media account.

With Beijing preparing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in February, China is on high alert as it fights local outbreaks in several cities.

Xi’an reported 52 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 143 since December 9.

From midnight on Thursday, all households may only ‘send one household member outside once every two days to purchase necessities,’ with all others ordered to remain indoors except for emergencies, the city government said the statement.