The Chinese government has closed Tibet’s prominent Potala Palace after a minor outbreak of COVID-19 reported in the Himalayan region.
The reaction underscores China’s continued adherence to its “zero-COVID” policy, imposing lockdowns, regime testing, quarantines and restrictions, even though most other countries have reopened.
A review on the palace’s weixin social media site said the classic home of Tibet’s Buddhist rulers would be closed from Tuesday, with a reopening date to be announced later.
Tibet’s economy relies heavily on tourism and the Potala is a major attraction.
China says its hardline policy has been successful in preventing large-scale hospitalizations and deaths, while critics, adding to the World Health Organization, have denounced that it has an effect on the economy and society and said it is out of step with the virus’s conversion nature and new prevention and treatment strategies.
China on Tuesday announced 828 new cases of domestic transmission, 22 in Tibet. Most of those cases had no symptoms.
Elsewhere in China, the government sent a first plane of tourists from the Sanya hotel, where tens of thousands of travelers have been stranded since Saturday due to a COVID-19 lockdown.
State broadcaster CCTV said the city in Hainan province is arranging more flights to take tourists home in batches after the initial flight to Xi’an. They are allowed to depart after several negative effects of virus testing.
The provincial capital, Haikou, will be closed at five o’clock in the afternoon. Wednesday from 6 a. m. to 11 p. m. , the town said.
Receive U-T Business in your inbox on Monday
Get in position for your week with the week’s most productive business stories of the week from San Diego and California, in your inbox Monday morning.
You may get promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Privacy PolicyTerms of UseSubscribe to our newsletters
To follow