Coronavirus in China: lockdowns extended in three Hebei cities after 90 new cases reported
- Restrictions to remain until Tuesday in provincial capital Shijiazhuang and Nangong, and until Monday in Langfang
- But lockdowns lifted in other parts of Hebei, local authorities say
In the provincial capital Shijiazhuang and nearby Nangong, the lockdown will remain in place until Tuesday, while in Langfang, the restrictions will be extended until Monday, the Hebei government said on Saturday.
A lockdown covering the rest of Xingtai, which administers Nangong, was lifted on Saturday, as were restrictions in Xinji, a county-level city under Shijiazhuang.
The outbreak in Hebei is the largest in China for several months, and the province’s proximity to Beijing has put the government on high alert with the Lunar New Year holiday just weeks away.
While it is traditionally a time when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel home for the festivities, the government is urging people to stay where they are.
A total of 688 cases have been reported in Hebei since January 2, of which 646 were Shijiazhuang, 41 in Xingtai and one in Langfang. Of those, one person has died, according to the Hebei government.
