Beijing (AFP)
China on Thursday reported 63 new Covid-19 contaminations in the past 24 hours - a record since July - as authorities strove to contain an outbreak of coronavirus that appeared in the region bordering Beijing.
The country, where the new coronavirus first emerged a year ago, has largely eradicated the epidemic since the spring thanks to strict movement controls, widespread mask wear, containment measures and tracing applications for cellphone.
But China has recorded rising balance sheets in recent days - even if they remain very far from the statements announced abroad.
The majority of new cases reported Thursday were in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing (51 contaminations to which are added 69 asymptomatic cases).
All schools have been closed in the town, whose vast territory has 11 million inhabitants.
The main highways leading to Shijiazhuang, located about 300 kilometers south of Beijing, have been closed and intercity buses have been stopped, to prevent the virus from spreading outside the city.
For health reasons, the main station in Shijiazhuang was closed and no longer allowed entry of travelers, according to public television CCTV.
The channel had previously shown full-dress medical personnel at one of Shijiazhuang's train stations, alongside travelers.
"I had a test [screening] last night but I do not have the results yet. Without it, I cannot leave the city," said a young woman interviewed by CCTV.
According to official figures, China has recorded 4,634 deaths and more than 87,000 contaminations, the vast majority of which in Wuhan (center), since the start of the epidemic.
© 2021 AFP