China starts mass Covid testing, imposes more lockdowns

People get off a coach at an entrance of Atlantis Sanya resort in Sanya, Hainan province, in November (REUTERS)

Hindustan Times, 7 Aug, 2022- China’s southern island province of Hainan started mass Covid-19 testing on Sunday, locking down more parts of the province of over 10 million residents, as authorities scramble to contain multiple Omicron-driven outbreaks, including the worst in capital Sanya, often called “China’s Hawaii”.

The number of cases in the province, rapidly spreading across the island located on the South China Sea, has crossed the 1100-mark from August 1 until Sunday noon.

All flights were cancelled from Sanya on Sunday, trapping thousands of tourists in the city and smaller numbers in adjoining beach towns.

At least 10 cities and regions have announced “static management” or lockdowns.

Thousands of tourists have been sent back to their hotels from the airport in Sanya where they now have to mandatorily stay for at least a week, spending their own money for accommodation and food.

The government is attempting to work out concessional rates for the trapped tourists, local media reports said.