Covid-19 delta case surge again: China locks down Fujian city of 4.5 million people

In an attempt to once again halt a delta outbreak and maintain its strict zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19, China has locked down a city of 4.5 million people in the southeastern province of Fujian after detecting a dozen coronavirus cases. 

59 locally transmitted cases were reported in the province on Monday. Putian, the city that is hardest-hit by the outbreak, reported 24 new local cases on Monday.

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The local government locked down all residential communities and closed entrances and exits of expressways and major roads linking the city.

A mass virus test on 2.9 million population started on Tuesday in Putian.

Xiamen, the capital city of the province, has taken similar measures of locking down communities and asking residents not to leave the city if not necessary.

Those who want to depart the city have to present negative virus test results done within 48 hours.

The city reported 32 locally transmitted cases on Monday.

According to experts, this round of resurgence is caused by the delta variant, and further discovery of cases are extremely possible in factories, schools and residential communities.