Hubei's sparsely populated area is closed down - millions of people under restrictions

All residents of Hubei Province, including the approximately 24 million who live in the sparsely populated areas, are now encouraged to stay at home for the time being. Only one person from each household is allowed to leave the home every three days to purchase necessities. Gathering to play mahjong and cards is explicitly prohibited, reports the South China Morning Post. It is also forbidden to leave 200,000 villages in the sparsely populated areas.

Similar restrictions have been in force in Wuhan, where the virus was first discovered, three weeks ago, and after that in several other major cities. Most recently in Xiaogan, with almost five million inhabitants, where all vehicles except those with special permission are banned on the roads.

The latest figures show that more than 70,000 people have been infected and 1770 have died.

But there are indications that the strict measures have had an effect. The more than 2,000 new cases reported during Monday represent a marginal increase from Sunday, but before that the number of new cases fell daily for three days in a row. A spokesman from the health authority in China also said on Sunday that the proportion of those infected who are considered to be critically ill has dropped from 32 to 22 percent over the past three weeks.

The restrictions mean an escalation of the authorities' efforts to stop the spread of the virus and a concentration of efforts in Hubei, where thousands of military medical workers have also been sent. At the same time, the number of infected people outside Hubei has dropped sharply in the past two weeks. In parts of China, restrictions have begun to be eased as the government tries to bring it back to normal as far as possible.

The restrictions imposed have been a severe blow to China's economy. In a report cited by The Guardian, the analysis company Capital Economics has shown that electricity consumption, traffic and travel are at bottom levels while food prices are skyrocketing. Both China and several neighboring countries warn of failing growth in the virus's footprint, and in Hong Kong, among other things, warn of commodity shortages when residents buy large amounts of food and toilet paper.

To try to avoid an economic crisis, China's central bank has now lowered its policy rate, and more relief for companies is expected this week.