China extends lockdown in Chengdu as it battles Covid-19 outbreak

New Delhi: The Chinese authorities on Sunday (September 4, 2022) extended the Covid-19 lockdown to more areas in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, which has been witnessing a spike in the number of coronavirus cases over the past few days. These restrictions range from mandatory work-from-home policies to the closing of entertainment establishments in certain districts. To contain the outbreak, China has also ordered more mass testing in the metropolis.

Chengdu, which announced a lockdown of its 21.2 million residents earlier this week, is the largest Chinese city to be locked down since Shanghai. In Shanghai, schools reopened last week after being shut for months.

Other major cities including Shenzhen in the south and Dalian in the northeast have also stepped up Covid-19 restrictions this week.

Despite the significant economic loss it has caused, China has been committed to its "dynamic-zero" COVID policy.

Also read: European health body on alert over new Covid-19 variants

Meanwhile, China recorded 1,673 local Covid cases around the country on Saturday, of which, 1,359 are asymptomatic.

(With agency inputs)