China is rushing to cancel a new COVID-19 outbreak that is likely to spread to one of its most economical regions, raising the specter of disruptions that could disrupt global supply chains for solar panels, medicines and semiconductors.
Infections have risen in Si County in the eastern province of Anhui, with the government reporting 287 cases on Sunday and nearly 1,000 since last week. extending to Jiangsu Province, China’s second largest contributor to economic output and a globally important production hub for the solar sector.
However, cases are already on the rise. Wuxi City, a biotechnology hub, reported 35 infections and suspended food at restaurants and entertainment venues that were closed.
Photo: Bloomberg
Zhejiang province and Shanghai also reported positive COVID-19 patients, fueling concerns about the broader effect on the Yangtze River Delta region, which accounts for a quarter of China’s economy.
The new outbreaks will be a main control for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) viral strategy. He reiterated last week that China would stick to “COVID zero,” which relies on common lockdowns and massive controls to eliminate infections, and said the country would rather suffer a transience that affects economic progression than let the virus harm people’s protection and health.
China is beginning to show signs of an incipient recovery from its latest outbreak circular, adding the two-month fatal blockade in Shanghai that caused major production disruptions and hampered global supply chains.
While the epicenter of the most recent outbreak is only a small county and the government has not imposed lockdowns on any of the major regional centers, any escalation of restrictions has the potential to spread around the world.
More than a third of the world’s solar panel production capacity is located in Jiangsu, according to BloombergNEF data, and it is also the leading manufacturer of solar cells and wafers. The Yangtze River Delta is also a key manufacturer of parts for iPhone and Mac laptops. semiconductors, as well as drug brands and e-commerce operations. Some brands have still returned to general after previous outbreaks.
China reported 380 cases on Sunday, bringing national infections to a point last noticed last May, when Shanghai was about to lift its blockade.
The financial center, neighboring Jiangsu, reported three local cases on Sunday. One of them discovered an outdoor government quarantine after six days when the city reported no network infections.
Zhao Dandan, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, warned at a briefing on Sunday that the city still faces dangers of an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Beijing has reported new cases.
On the other hand, Ningde City, Fujian Province, discovered 10 new cases of COVID-19 and implemented measures. The city is home to Contemporary Amperex Technology Co, the largest manufacturer of batteries for electric cars.