Coronavirus: Chinese vice-premier orders Xian officials to do more to curb growing outbreak

Name: New round of mass testing in Xian, the northwestern city at epicentre of China’s Covid-19 outbreak
Uploaded: 2021-12-31T06:29:34.000Z
Duration: 1 min 51 s
Description: New round of mass testing in Xian, the northwestern city at epicentre of China’s Covid-19 outbreak

During her second visit this month, Sun Chunlan tells local authorities to improve testing and quarantine measures

More than 230 new locally acquired cases reported as of Friday morning, as northwestern city remains under lockdown

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Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan made a second trip to Xian, in Shaanxi, as the city battles China’s worst Covid-19 outbreak this year. Photo: Weibo

Mimi Lau

Published: 2:29pm, 31 Dec 2021Updated: 9:18pm, 31 Dec 2021

Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan has urged officials in Xian to improve testing and quarantine measures as the northwestern city battles China’s worst Covid-19 outbreak this year.

She made the remarks on Wednesday during her second visit to the city since the latest wave of infections – which officials have linked to a passenger on a flight from Pakistan – began on December 9.

The Xian outbreak has shown no signs of easing, with 238 new locally acquired cases reported as of Friday morning, according to National Health Commission and Xian government figures. That compares to 155 cases reported on Wednesday.

The tourist city in Shaanxi province – home to 13 million people and known for its Terracotta Warriors – has been under lockdown for the past nine days, with authorities imposing travel restrictions, mandatory testing and widespread disinfection measures.

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New round of mass testing in Xian, the northwestern city at epicentre of China’s Covid-19 outbreak

Shaanxi has reported 1,301 cases in the outbreak so far – most of them in Xian, with 12 in Xianyang, 11 in Yanan and one in Weinan, according to the provincial government. One patient is reportedly in critical condition and five others are in a serious condition.

Sun previously visited Xian on December 22, when she ordered immediate action to contain the spread of the virus. On Wednesday, the vice-premier visited some of Xian’s worst-hit communities in Yanta district, inspecting mass testing and quarantine facilities and hospitals, and reviewing lockdown arrangements including the supply of food to residents, according to Shaanxi Daily.

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