The zero Covid strategy and its extreme measures are still relevant in China.

For three days, the 320,000 inhabitants of Wugang, a locality in the center of the country, are subject to confinement, which began on Monday, after the discovery of a single positive case of Covid-19.

Almost spared by the coronavirus for two years, China experienced an increase in cases in the spring, unprecedented since 2020 in its magnitude, which affected many provinces to varying degrees.

The recent epidemic rebound is much less significant.

But in line with its cherished strategy, the country continues to respond with lockdowns, travel restrictions and the isolation of those who test positive in quarantine centers.

Lockdown for three days

According to a notice from the town hall of Wugang, the 320,000 inhabitants of the commune are prohibited from leaving their homes until Wednesday.

Located 750 kilometers from Beijing in Henan Province, Wugang is an important steel town.

In this same province, the city of Zhumadian also announced Tuesday a three-day confinement for its seven million inhabitants, after two positive cases.

The restrictions, however, seem more flexible than in Wugang: one person per household can still go out every two days to shop, the town hall said.

Limited epidemic rebound

According to estimates by Nomura Bank, nearly 250 million Chinese are currently subject to various travel restrictions, including confinements.

They were 114 million a week ago.

China reported 347 new positive cases nationwide on Tuesday.

This epidemic rebound, limited both in number and geographically, nevertheless raises fears of the return of restrictions, particularly in Shanghai.

Fears in Shanghai

Since the beginning of the month, China's largest city has again recorded positive cases, after a drastic drop in June.

Result, the 25 million of the metropolis must submit between Tuesday and Thursday to two screening tests, more than a month after the lifting of a grueling confinement in the spring.

In the province of Anhui (east), where 1.7 million inhabitants were confined last week, some residents were to carry out their fifteenth screening test on Tuesday, according to a notice from local authorities.

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