China Locks Down Again Amid COVID Spread... Foxconn Zhengzhou Factory Area Sealed for 7 Days

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As COVID-19 spreads in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, high-intensity lockdown measures are being implemented one after another, including the closure of areas near the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou City, which assembles Apple iPhones, Bloomberg reported on the 2nd.

According to the report, Chinese authorities announced that 2,928 COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide the previous day, an increase from the 2,878 new cases reported on the 31st of last month. By region, Guangzhou had the highest number with 326 cases, followed by Beijing with 32, Shenzhen with 23, and Shanghai with 1.

In Guangzhou, the number of new infections has rapidly increased since more than 50 new cases were reported on the 17th of last month. Guangzhou authorities stated that the local COVID-19 situation is very serious and complex, and that the highly contagious BA.5.2 lineage of the Omicron subvariant, which has a short incubation period of about 24 hours, is driving the current surge in infections.

Many places are also imposing factory closures due to the spread of COVID-19. In particular, Zhengzhou City in Henan Province announced via its WeChat account that the area around the Foxconn factory producing iPhones will be closed for seven days, and all vehicles except those transporting daily necessities will be prohibited from operating.

In addition, the production site of Nio (Weilai), one of China's top three electric vehicle startups, has also suspended operations, and the area where Guangzhou's medical factories are concentrated has been completely locked down.

Shanghai authorities reported that after one infection was confirmed at the local Disneyland, they closed Disneyland on the 31st of last month and conducted extensive testing of visitors and close contacts, testing 439,000 people as of the previous day. Bloomberg reported that after Shanghai imposed a two-month lockdown from April to May, causing significant damage nationwide, local governments have been implementing covert lockdowns without officially announcing full lockdowns.