Guangzhou tightens measures as cases rise

Five subdistricts in Liwan district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, were put under strict management on Saturday as the city reported one more confirmed local COVID-19 patient and five local asymptomatic carriers on Friday.

In the subdistricts of Hailong, Baihedong, Zhongnan, Dongjiao and Chongkou, all residents are required to stay at home and only one person per household is allowed to go out for daily necessity shopping every day, said Huang Guanglie, director of the city's health commission, at a news conference on Saturday.

All schools, except for the final-year grades of junior and senior high schools with boarding facilities, are required to suspend in-person classes.

In the seven metro stations in those subdistricts, people are allowed only to exit the trains.

In the less restrictive areas identified in the multi-level anti-epidemic management program of Guangzhou announced on Saturday, including parts of the districts of Liwan, Yuexiu, Haizhu, Baiyun and Panyu, residents, are asked to reduce trips outside and avoid gatherings.

In other parts of the city, large-scale activities are strictly controlled and online meetings are advised. Indoor public venues, including entertainment venues, are required to accept customers of less than 75 percent of their capacity.

In the most restrictive areas, food and daily necessity supply is specially arranged and online shopping delivery points are installed, said Wei Min, deputy director of the city's commerce bureau, pledging sufficient and smooth commodity supply across the city.

Since the first local COVID-19 patient was confirmed in Liwan district on May 21, Guangzhou has reported five local confirmed patients and nine local asymptomatic carriers.