COVID-19 Outbreak in China’s Inner Mongolia Rapidly Spreads, Major Port City Under Total Lockdown

COVID-19 Outbreak in China’s Inner Mongolia Rapidly Spreads, Major Port City Under Total Lockdown
Medical staff members conduct nucleic acid tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus in Zhangye in China's northwestern Gansu Province, on Oct. 23, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
11/30/2021
Updated:
11/30/2021

The number of local COVID-19 infection cases has rapidly increased in China’s northern city Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia, with the city announcing a total lockdown. At the same time, three places in Inner Mongolia have been upgraded to medium- and high-risk areas.

On Nov. 29, the Chinese regime’s Manzhouli Epidemic Prevention and Control Command Center stated at a press conference that from Nov. 28 to Nov. 29, eight new local cases were confirmed in Manzhouli. Nucleic acid testing has been conducted on all residents in the city since Nov. 28. An official report released later on Nov. 29 stated that a total of 60 positive cases were detected.

The command center also stated that since Nov. 27, flights, trains, long-distance buses, taxis, and city buses in Manzhouli have been completely suspended. All entrances and exits in the city are subject to traffic control, and a 24-hour lockdown is implemented. In addition, Manzhouli City’s bazaar and cultural, leisure, and entertainment venues have all been temporarily closed.

Manzhouli is China’s largest land port city. Several residents told the Chinese language Epoch Times that since this round of the outbreak of the epidemic, the border port has been closed.

The Epoch Times has obtained a video showing the long line of Nucleic acid testing in the city and the lockdown.

On Nov. 29, a female resident in the Yiyuan community of the Dongshan sub-district told The Epoch Times, “The city is totally locked down, and all residents are told to stay home and are not allowed to go out; and no shops are allowed to open.”

“This time it is very strict. None of the stores are allowed to open,” Bai Lu (alias), another resident of Yiyuan Community told the Chinese language Epoch Times. “Not only can’t they make money, whoever opens their business will have their license directly revoked. Nobody dares to open their business. They would rather not open their stores than lose their licenses.”

Bai said that all buses, taxis, and private cars are suspended, with nobody allowed to go out on the street unless they have a permit by relevant governmental departments. Schools are also closed, and students have to take online lessons at home.

Bai added that more than 600 people have been quarantined in Manzhouli, including those working in railways, building inspectors, and their close contacts, including colleagues and family members.

“The epidemic in Manzhouli is very abnormal,“ a mainland netizen said. ”At least there shouldn’t be so many cases suddenly detected.”

Another one posted, “All communities are under lockdown without prior notice for residents to stock up food and supplies. We haven’t had anything to eat for a whole day and called all the governmental office and they didn’t provide any solution. This is what they mean by having enough supplies ready? There’s nowhere to buy anything.”

Gu Qing’er and Hong Ning contributed to the report.