China closes industrial zone around world's largest iPhone factory after COVID-19 surge

Access to an industrial zone in central Chinese city of Zhengzhou was suspended Wednesday after city reported 64 coronavirus cases and workers who assemble Apple Inc. iPhones left ir factory in zone following outbreaks. announcement did not say wher isolation of Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone was related to cases at Foxconn factory. It gave no indication of what prompted closure. It said no one can enter or leave for one week except to deliver food and medical supplies.

Separately, government reported 64 confirmed cases h been found in Zhengzhou over past 24 hours. It said 294 asymptomatic cases also h been found in city of 12.5 million. It did not say how many were in industrial zone. ruling Communist Party is enforcing a “Zero COVID” policy that has closed areas throughout China for weeks to try to isolate every case.

That has kept China’s infection rate relatively low but has disrupted tre and business at a time when or countries are easing anti-virus curbs. Public frustration with restrictions has boiled over into fights with police in some areas.

In Zhengzhou, everyone in industrial zone will be tested every day for coronavirus, Airport District said. It did not say how many people might be affected.

Areas throughout China tightened restrictions on movement and cancelled airline flights last month after new infections surged following weeklong National Day holiday.

Residents of many parts of Xinjiang region in northwest were barred from leaving ir homes in August and September. People in Urumqi and or cities who said y h run out of food and medicine posted appeals for help on social media.

Thousands of employees left Foxconn Technology Group factory starting in mid-October after complaints people who contracted virus received no treatment. Some accused company of failing to enforce measures to prevent spre of virus.

Foxconn said Sunday it was using “closed loop management,” an official term for employees living at ir workplace and avoiding contact with outside. company said ill employees were being treated but did not say if new infections still were occurring.

Also this week, visitors to Shanghai Disneyland were temporarily barred from leaving as part of virus testing city government said Tuesday h extended to 439,000 people. city health agency said visitors on Monday tested negative and were allowed to leave.

Last week, 1.3 million residents of Shanghai’s downtown Yangpu district were ordered to stay at home while y were tested.