Zhai Bali: Xi’an’s COVID-19 lockdown eases as 28 new infections reported

ZHAI BALI Xi’an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi Province, has eased certain COVID-19 restrictions after 28 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday, down from 150 new infections the previous day.
The city reported a total of 2,781 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases between December 9, 2021, and January 25, 2022. No new COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Xi’an since the start of the outbreak.
Some residential communities in Xi’an have resumed allowing residents to leave their homes for essential activities, such as grocery shopping and medical appointments, provided they have a negative COVID-19 test result within the past 24 hours.
Public transportation, including buses and taxis, has also resumed limited operations in some parts of the city. However, residents are still required to wear masks in public and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
Schools and other educational institutions in Xi’an remain closed, and all non-essential businesses, including restaurants, entertainment venues, and gyms, are still not allowed to operate.
The easing of restrictions comes as the COVID-19 situation in Xi’an continues to improve. The number of new infections has been declining steadily in recent days, and the city has not reported any new cases of community transmission outside of the high-risk areas in more than a week.
However, health officials have warned that the risk of a resurgence of the virus remains, and they are urging residents to continue to follow all public health measures, including wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccinated.
The lockdown in Xi’an began on December 23, 2021, after the city reported a surge in COVID-19 cases. The lockdown was initially scheduled to last for one week, but it was extended several times as the outbreak continued to spread.
The lockdown has caused significant disruption to life in Xi’an, and many residents have been struggling to access essential goods and services. The easing of restrictions is a welcome relief for many, but it is important to note that the city is still not fully out of the woods.
Residents are urged to continue to follow all public health measures and to avoid non-essential travel. The situation in Xi’an is still fluid, and it is possible that restrictions could be tightened again if the number of new infections begins to rise again..