Over 13 million people were ordered to stay home in the Chinese city of Xi’an, which imposed a strict lockdown on Wednesday and dramatically tightened travel controls to fight a growing Covid-19 outbreak.
The new restrictions were imposed after Xi’an reported 52 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 143 since December 9.
From midnight on Thursday, all households may only “send one household member outside once every two days to purchase necessities,” with all others ordered to remain indoors except for emergencies, the city government said in a statement on its official Weibo social media account.
Residents “should not leave the city unless necessary,” the government said, adding that those seeking to leave would have to provide evidence of “special circumstances” and apply for approval.
Long-distance bus stations were closed and authorities have set up disease control checkpoints on highways out of Xi’an, government notices said. More than 85 percent of flights to and from the city’s main airport have been grounded.
Large-scale meetings including activities in outdoor parks have been suspended, while the museum housing the world-famous Terracotta Army — the 2,000-year-old mausoleum of China’s first emperor — has shut until further notice.
