INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A surge in COVID-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, adding to financial pressure that
has disrupted global supply chains and sharply slowed growth in the world&s second-largest economy, AP reported.Residents in districts
encompassing almost 5 million people have been ordered to stay home at least through Sunday, with one member of each family allowed out once
per day to purchase necessities, local authorities said Wednesday.The order came after the densely populated city of 13 million reported
more than 2,500 new cases over the previous 24 hours
Public transport has been suspended and classes halted across much of Guangzhou, while flights to Beijing and other major cities have been
canceled, according to state media.China has retained its strict &zero-COVID& policy despite relatively low case numbers and no new
deaths.The country&s borders remain largely closed and internal travel and trade is fraught with ever-changing quarantine regulations.The
tight restrictions have sparked occasional clashes between residents and local Communist Party officials, who are threatened with punishment
if reported cases in their areas of jurisdiction climb above levels deemed acceptable.The party under the leadership of President Xi Jinping
has dismissed calls from the United Nations& World Health Organization to ease regulations, refused to import foreign vaccines and defied
requests to release more information about the source of the virus, which was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late
2019.The post Virus lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou first appeared on Ariana News.
