China Returns to Tightening Covid Restrictions after Cases Surge across Mainland

The Chinese authorities have tightened the Covid-19 controls after reports of more virus outbreaks in many cities.

According to Nomura’s model, the tightening Covid-19 restrictions on businesses and social activities affected 9.2% of China’s gross domestic product as of Thursday, up from 7% on October 16. 

Chief China economist, Ting Lu, said that Covid-19 cases had risen since the 20th National Party Congress on October 16, while saying that the national lockdown situation had been getting significantly worse.

On Thursday, over 20 of 31 province-level regions in China reported findings of Covid-19 infection cases. The country reported 214 cases in total for people with symptoms and 1,123 without.

Among the many outbreaks of increasing infections in the capital city of China, the Universal Beijing Resort was forced to a temporary closure on Wednesday.

In the latest report, many cities in China went back into lockdown this week, including Wuhan and Zhengzhou, where several Covid cases were found at Foxconn, a major manufacturer for Apple. On-site schools and dine-in restaurants in Guangzhou were also closed this week.