Covid-19 in China: Xian cases pass 150 mark for 7th day in a row

Provincial party chief urges officials to make every effort to contain the outbreak, the most serious to hit the country in the past 12 months

The capital of Shaanxi province has been in lockdown for 10 days and subject to rounds of mass testing

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Xian has introduced mass Covid-19 testing as part of its efforts to stop the latest outbreak. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:44pm, 1 Jan 2022

The Chinese city of Xian reported its seventh straight day of more than 150 Covid-19 cases as the local leadership urged officials to make every effort to contain the disease.

A total of 174 of the 175 nationwide local cases were reported in Xian as 2021 came to an end, according to the Shaanxi provincial health commission.

Repeated rounds of mass viral screenings are still taking place in the city as it battles China’s worst outbreak in the past 12 months.

Xian is home to 13 million people and is best known for its terracotta warriors. It has been under lockdown for the past 10 days, with authorities imposing travel restrictions, mandatory testing and widespread disinfection measures.

Shaanxi provincial party secretary Liu Guozhong told local pandemic control officials in a Friday work meeting that this was the “most strenuous time” in the fight against the outbreak but he urged officials to remain steadfast.

“We are experiencing an unprecedented challenge that calls for us to show our true colours and courage at a critical time such as this. All cadres across the province must shoulder the responsibility to strengthen leadership and accountability to see us through to the end of the battle,” Liu said.

“Officials in charge must take the lead to be present on the battlefield front line to ensure concrete measures are in place.”