China has sealed off Shijiazhuang, a large city near Beijing, when close to 100 new COVID-19 cases were discovered there.
It will be the largest COVID-19 outbreak in the country during the past six months.
Shijiazhuang is a city in Hebei province with a total population of close to 11 million. To stem the spread of the virus, transport links were cut and millions of vehicles and residents were prevented from leaving the city by the authorities.
Residents are also being swabbed by medical workers at community centers in Shijiazhuang for city-wide mass testing. Many have lined up already, creating long queues that have stretched significantly.
Roads leading to the city have also been blocked by barricades. Schools have also been closed.
The province of Hebei recently reported 33 new confirmed COVID-19 cases to add up to the 51 reported the day before.
(Photo credit: Zhao Jing/globaltimes.cn)