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According to Politico, the Henan province in central China has taken the drastic measure of putting a mid-sized county in total lockdown.
Authorities are reportedly attempting to prepare fo a second coronavirus wave.
The lockdown includes “curfew-like measures” in an area with roughly 600,000 residents who have been told to stay home.
All movement outside the home requires approval, Politico added.
After months of restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus, China has reported a decline in domestic cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. On Wednesday, the National Health Commission reported 36 new infections — all but one imported cases.
Chinese leaders are eager to restart the economy but have stressed that it must be balanced with containment measures.
During his recent inspection trip to Zhejiang province, President Xi Jinping emphasised that China must take careful steps to get life back to normal and warned officials to ensure “no loopholes” to prevent a return of the epidemic that has sickened more than 82,000 and killed over 3,300 people in mainland China alone.
According to the Jia county notice, residents must have special permits to leave their home and must have their temperature taken and wear face masks for those trips.
Only people with special permits can go to work.
Cars can only be used on alternate days, depending on their plate number.
An official of the county’s transport office said, “It’s better not to come to Jia county now. Nobody can enter or leave.”
Local resident Wang Xiao, 23, said, “I’m worried because it’s so close to me. The hospital is only about 1.2 miles from my home. I had no idea that there were confirmed cases [of infection].”
Besides companies associated with utilities, medical suppliers, logistics companies and food processing firms, all businesses are shutdown.
All shops are closed except supermarkets, hospitals, food markets, petrol stations, pharmacies and hotels have been closed.
