COVID-19: Two Chinese cities in Hebei province sealed off to curb new outbreak

Chinese authorities have imposed strict measures on two cities in Hebei province, which is very close to Beijing, in a bid to curb growing Coronavirus wave. People were stopped from leaving cities of Shijiazhuang and Xingtai as y have been sealed off and transportation has been stopped. Various parts of China are reporting new COVID cases. Parts of Hebei province have been deemed as 'coronavirus high danger zone' after 14 new cases of COVID-19 were found. Also, eleven of those cases were in Shijiazhuang city. With this, 30 more people tested positive for virus without showing any symptoms.

China prepares to battle virus 

Or cases were reported from city of Yantai. According to AP, China also recorded two cases of domestic transmission in rastern province of Liaoning and one case in Beijing. Authorities have urged citizens to t make “unnecessary” trips to ir hometowns for Lunar New Year holiday amid a rise in coronavirus cases. Various local governments have also issued tice asking people to stay home and t indulge in travel. “In a bid to prevent transmission and control pandemic, we encour companies and enterprises to make flexible arrangements for holiday and guide employees to spend vacation in area where y work”, read a tice issued by State council. 

Read: COVID-19: People In China Urged t To Make ‘unnecessary’ Trips Amid Surge In Cases

Meanwhile, an international team of scientists travelling on behalf of World Health Organisation (WHO) to Wuhan in order to trace COVID-19 virus origin has been denied entry to China. UN health body chief Tedros Adham Ghebreyesus has said that he is "very disappointed" with news. Two members of team are already on ir way to China and ors had to cancel ir trip at last moment.  

Read: COVID-19: Chandigarh Reports 43 Fresh Cases, 2 More Deaths

Earlier, it was reported that China has refused to disclose exact date and or details of visit, including places where investigators will be allowed to visit and people y will be allowed to meet. China has claimed that details of visit, including dates, were still being finalised internally. WHO chief said that he has been in contact with senior Chinese officials, who have assured him speeding up of internal procedure for earliest possible deployment. 

Read: COVID-19: CureVac, Bayer Ink Agreement To Produce 'hundreds Of Doses' Of Vaccine

Also Read: WHO Europe Calls For Intense Measures To Contain COVID-19 Pandemic In Region

(with inputs from AP)

(Im Credits: Unsplash)