China applies a strict health policy against the coronavirus, which makes it possible to keep the number of contaminations at a level much lower than the rest of the world.

This strategy results in confinements sometimes as soon as a few cases appear, by PCR tests to be carried out several times a week to access public places or even by quarantine placements.

Capital of the mountainous province of Sichuan (southwest), Chengdu has already been confined for a week due to an outbreak of Covid-19 which has already resulted in hundreds of positive cases.

The confinement was originally due to end on Wednesday, but the municipal authorities have indicated its extension.

"The whole city will vigorously continue its action to achieve zero contamination", they justified in a press release.

Prevention measures are "starting to bear fruit" with some neighborhoods now free of new cases, said Yang Xiaoguang, the head of municipal health services.

But the situation remains "serious and complex" and certain areas "are still at an impasse", he underlined.

All confined residents will continue to be tested daily.

As was already the case, each household will be able to send someone outside once a day to run errands.

Health services announced Thursday 116 new positive cases in the city in 24 hours.

Under health measures, residents were unable to leave their homes during the powerful earthquake that hit the province on Monday and whose epicenter was about 200 kilometers away.

Many businesses had to temporarily shut down in Chengdu.

Swedish automaker Volvo suspended production last week at a plant in the city that employs nearly 3,000 people.

Despite the repercussions on its economy, China seems determined to maintain its health strategy.

Elsewhere in the country, the metropolis of Shenzhen (south), headquarters of many technology companies, relaxed its restrictions this week.

The authorities had called on the 18 million inhabitants to avoid leaving their homes due to an outbreak of Covid-19.

The Health Ministry on Thursday reported 1,334 new positive cases in China in 24 hours.

© 2022 AFP