Shenzhen Locks Down for at Least a Week

　　Bloomberg News

　　14 Mar 2022 GMT+8 07:55 Corrected 14 Mar 2022 GMT+8 09:43

　　IN its latest move to curb the spread of COVID-19 virus, Shenzhen will conduct three rounds of citywide nucleic acid tests between Monday and March 20, according to a notice issued by Shenzhen COVID-19 Prevention and Control Command Office this evening.

　　All people in the city are required to take the tests. Residents are advised to pay close attention to the time periods for tests in their respective neighborhoods and take precautions when going out for nucleic acid samplings. Residents are required to go back to their residences immediately after having the swab samples taken.

　　Employees of government departments and public institutions are required to work from home, or serve as volunteers at their communities.

　　Employees of enterprises, except those responsible for the supplies of daily essentials like water, electricity, fuel, gas, communications, food and public sanitation, are also required to work from home, or suspend production and operation activities. Business venues, except supermarkets selling daily necessities (including the agricultural produce markets), pharmacies, medical institutions, catering enterprises that provide takeout services, will be closed.

　　The measures will cover the whole city and remain valid until March 20, after which adjustments will be made according to the new situation, the office said.

　　China placed the 17.5 million residents of the southern city of Shenzhen into lockdown for at least a week, seeking to halt a growing Covid-19 outbreak with a move that could cause disruption and production delays in the key technology hub and port.