Thirteen million Chinese will regain their freedom. The long confinement imposed in the city of Xi’an, in northern China, was lifted on Monday, authorities announced, more than a month following the start of restrictions imposed following the discovery of an outbreak which contaminated in total more than 2,100 people.
This confinement, which began on December 22, was the longest and most extensive imposed in China since the quarantine of the metropolis of Wuhan, the first epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, from January to April 2020. In addition to having lifted all the restrictions, the authorities of the ancient imperial capital have reestablished links with the rest of the country and businesses have reopened, thanks to a drop in the number of contaminations.
72 cases in the health bubble of the Olympic Games
As the Beijing Olympics begin on February 4 (until February 20), the Chinese capital now has the highest number of daily contaminations: six of the 18 new cases identified on Monday were in the capital, while 39 cases were imported. A total of 72 participants in the Olympic Games tested positive for Covid-19, while a very strict health bubble was imposed on all athletes and other participants in the Winter Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, announced on Monday a relaxation of the rules concerning screening tests, with an increase in the threshold at which a person is considered positive. Chinese Customs will strengthen controls on cold chain products, suspected by Beijing of being a vector of Covid-19 contamination.