Coronavirus: Chinese factory hub Shenzhen shuts down Hong Kong border district for 3 days

Wholesale markets, cinemas, public venues in Futian district to be shut until Monday at least

Some bus and subway lines have been suspended, with window for mandatory negative Covid-19 test report halved to 24 hours

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Residents get tested for Covid-19 in Shenzhen, during a weeklong citywide lockdown in March. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 5:08pm, 26 Jun 2022Updated: 9:05pm, 26 Jun 2022

China’s southern manufacturing powerhouse of Shenzhen has closed wholesale markets, cinemas and gyms in a central district bordering Hong Kong for three days as it steps up to prevent a wider spread of Covid-19.

The Shenzhen municipal health commission said all bars and parks would be shut in Futian district, and public events suspended, after nearly a dozen local cases were found over Friday and Saturday.

Shenzhen reported seven local cases, five of which were symptomatic, on Friday and four local asymptomatic cases on Saturday. All of the cases were found in Futian district, except for one case in Luohu district on Saturday.

Some bus and subway services have also been suspended in the district, home to around 1.55 million people and one of the world’s largest electronics markets. Restaurants are limited to 50 per cent of capacity.

The measures will last at least three days, and then be “adjusted” according to the disease situation, the commission said.

Daily Covid-19 nucleic acid test results have now become necessary for using public transport or entering public venues in Futian, after the testing window for negative reports was shortened from 48 hours to 24.