A new spread of Corona and the imposition of closures on millions of residents in China

Millions of residents were quarantined in China on Wednesday due to the resurgence of the Covid-19 epidemic, which has raised fears, especially in Shanghai, of a return to restrictions, a month after ending a long and exhausting isolation.

He imposed isolation on China's largest city for two months in the spring to stop the worst outbreak of the epidemic in the country since its beginning.

The strict restrictions in the Chinese capital have posed a severe test for its 25 million people who are facing problems supplying fresh produce.

And the Chinese Ministry of Health reported about 300 new infections with the Corona virus nationwide on Wednesday.

The main affected area is Anhui Province (east), where 1.7 million people in two rural provinces are currently under quarantine.

More than a thousand infections have been recorded in this region since last week, with the spread of infection in Jiangsu Province (east), bordering Shanghai, and an important industrial area.

Nomura's Ting Lu said the mutant Omicron remains a "major problem for the Chinese economy".

Since Sunday, injuries have been recorded in Shanghai, where tests have been imposed to detect injuries in most areas, while all karaoke halls in the city were closed Wednesday.

Authorities said some infections are being traced back to these entertainment venues.

Some Shanghai residents fear a return to restrictions, five weeks after the two-month lockdown was lifted in China's largest city.

Concern increased with some families receiving food rations, as appears from messages circulated widely on social networks.

The city government said in a note that entertainment venues, including bars, internet cafes and karaoke bars, will be closed from midnight on Wednesday.

State media published pictures of Xi'an residents queuing for tests after midnight on Tuesday and Wednesday.

But she confirmed that the city is under lockdown.

"All the infections are with the Omicron PA5.2 mutant," Ma Zhaofeng, a health official in Xi'an, told reporters, stressing that the tracking of infections is still ongoing.

The strict health policy requires conducting extensive examinations and imposing a mandatory quarantine if tests prove the presence of infections, and isolating the injured.

The government considers this method necessary to optimally use medical resources and preserve the elderly, who make up a relatively small proportion of the vaccinated.

But these measures deal a severe blow to economic activity with many businesses closing or business slowing.

According to estimates by Bank Nomura, at least 114 million Chinese are currently subject to various restrictions, including travel restrictions.

And they were 66 million just a week ago.

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