View source for COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China

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{{Multiple issues|{{POV|date=February 2022}}
{{missing information|[[case definition]]; evolution of case def; see [https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19/issues/5579 OWiD announcement] (still working on updating the data). The article needs one or more up-to-date graphs (of cases and deaths)|date=April 2022}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox pandemic
| name            = COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
| map1            = COVID-19 in China 2020 to April 20, 2022.png
| legend1         = Rolling average of confirmed COVID-19 cases per day in mainland China
| disease         = [[COVID-19]]
| virus_strain    = [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]]
| location        = Mainland China
| first_case      = 1 December 2019<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=12|day1=01|year1=2019|month2=|day2=|year2=}} ago)
| origin          = [[Wuhan]], [[Hubei]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sheikh |first1=Knvul |last2=Rabin |first2=Roni Caryn |title=The Coronavirus: What Scientists Have Learned So Far |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/what-is-coronavirus.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=10 March 2020 |access-date=24 March 2020 |archive-date=23 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623171613/https://www.nytimes.com/article/what-is-coronavirus.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| recovery_cases  = 379,053<!--daily report included to cite asymptomatic numbers--><ref name="nhc-daily-report">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yjb/s7860/202205/4b6b9808ba8a469c9026f05d3f35546e.shtml |script-title=zh:截至5月30日24时新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情最新情况|publisher=National Health Commission |date=30 May 2022 |access-date=31 May 2022 |language=zh-cn}}</ref>
| deaths          = {{COVID-19 data/Text|CN|deaths}}
| confirmed_cases = {{COVID-19 data/Text|CN|cases}}<br />503,302 (symptomatic)
| suspected_cases = 1.1 billion+ ([[Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention|CCDC]] estimate in January 2022)<ref name="CCDC estimate">{{cite news |title=China says COVID outbreak has infected 80% of population |work=Reuters |date=21 January 2023 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-covid-outbreak-has-infected-80-population-2023-01-21 |access-date=22 January 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314191002/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-covid-outbreak-has-infected-80-population-2023-01-21/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| vaccinations    = {{ublist
  | {{COVID-19 data/Text|CN|total_vaccinated}} (total vaccinated)
  | {{COVID-19 data/Text|CN|fully_vaccinated}} (fully vaccinated)
  | {{COVID-19 data/Text|CN|vaccine_doses}} (doses administered)
  }}
}}
{{History of the People's Republic of China}}

The '''COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China''' is part of [[COVID-19 pandemic|the worldwide pandemic]] of coronavirus disease 2019 ([[COVID-19]]) caused by [[severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2]] (SARS-CoV-2). [[China]] was where the first COVID outbreak occurred, the first where authorities imposed drastic measures in response (including lockdowns and face mask mandates), and was one of the first countries to bring the outbreak under control, at least temporarily.

The [[2019–2020 COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China]] was the first wave of the disease, and was first manifested as a cluster of mysterious [[pneumonia]] cases, mostly related to the [[Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market|Huanan Seafood Market]], in [[Wuhan]], the capital of [[Hubei]] province. It was first reported to the local government on 27 December 2019 and published on 31 December. On 8 January 2020, a new [[coronavirus]] ([[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]]) was identified as the cause of the pneumonia by Chinese scientists.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Khan|first=Natasha|date=9 January 2020|title=New Virus Discovered by Chinese Scientists Investigating Pneumonia Outbreak|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-virus-discovered-by-chinese-scientists-investigating-pneumonia-outbreak-11578485668|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202154104/https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-virus-discovered-by-chinese-scientists-investigating-pneumonia-outbreak-11578485668|archive-date=2 February 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> By 29 January, the virus was found to have spread to all [[Provinces of China|provinces of mainland China]].<ref name="HKC-2020">{{cite web |script-title=zh:眾新聞 {{!}} 【武漢肺炎大爆發】西藏首宗確診 全國淪陷 內地確診累計7711宗 湖北黃岡疫情僅次武漢 |url=https://www.hkcnews.com/article/26475/武漢肺炎-西藏-黃岡-26478/【武漢肺炎大爆發】西藏首宗確診-全國淪陷-內地確診累計7711宗-湖北黃岡疫情僅次武漢 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202154120/https://www.hkcnews.com/article/26475/%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E8%A5%BF%E8%97%8F-%E9%BB%83%E5%B2%A1-26478/%E3%80%90%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E5%A4%A7%E7%88%86%E7%99%BC%E3%80%91%E8%A5%BF%E8%97%8F%E9%A6%96%E5%AE%97%E7%A2%BA%E8%A8%BA-%E5%85%A8%E5%9C%8B%E6%B7%AA%E9%99%B7-%E5%85%A7%E5%9C%B0%E7%A2%BA%E8%A8%BA%E7%B4%AF%E8%A8%887711%E5%AE%97-%E6%B9%96%E5%8C%97%E9%BB%83%E5%B2%A1%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E5%83%85%E6%AC%A1%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2 |archive-date=2 February 2020 |access-date=2 February 2020 |language=zh |script-website=zh:眾新聞}}</ref><ref name="AllRegions22">{{cite news |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |date=30 January 2020 |title=Coronavirus Has Now Spread To All Regions Of mainland China |newspaper=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/801142924/coronavirus-has-now-spread-to-all-regions-of-mainland-china |url-status=live |access-date=2 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202154104/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/801142924/coronavirus-has-now-spread-to-all-regions-of-mainland-china |archive-date=2 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Declared23">{{Cite news |date=31 January 2020 |title=Coronavirus declared global health emergency |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51318246 |url-status=live |access-date=2 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130201004/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51318246 |archive-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>

By late February, the pandemic had been brought under control in most [[Provinces of China|Chinese provinces]]. On 25 February, the reported number of newly confirmed cases outside mainland China exceeded those reported from within for the first time.<ref name="WHO Director general opening remarks 26 Feb22">{{cite web |date=26 February 2020 |title=WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the mission briefing on COVID-19 – 26 February 2020 |url=https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-mission-briefing-on-covid-19---26-february-2020 |work=World Health Organization |access-date=17 March 2020 |archive-date=6 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506224550/https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-mission-briefing-on-covid-19---26-february-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> By mid-2020, widespread community transmission in China had been ended, and restrictions were significantly eased.<ref name="Lancet-COVID-China-lessons2">{{cite journal |last1=Lancet |first1=The |date=25 July 2020 |title=COVID-19 and China: lessons and the way forward |journal=The Lancet |volume=396 |issue=10246 |pages=213 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31637-8 |pmc=7377676 |pmid=32711779| issn=0140-6736 }}</ref>

Until late 2022, the [[Chinese government response to COVID-19|Chinese government response]] included a [[zero-COVID]] strategy, which aims to eliminate transmission of the virus within the country and allow resumption of normal economic and social activity, making it one of few countries to pursue this approach.<ref name="Normile20212">{{cite journal |last1=Normile |first1=Dennis |date=19 November 2021 |title='Zero COVID' is getting harder—but China is sticking with it |url= |journal=Science |volume=374 |issue=6570 |pages=924 |bibcode=2021Sci...374..924N |doi=10.1126/science.acx9657 |issn=0036-8075 |eissn=1095-9203 |pmid=34793217 |s2cid=244403712}}</ref> By late 2020, China's economy continued to broaden recovery from the recession during the pandemic, with stable job creation and record international trade growth, although retail consumption was still slower than predicted.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 2020 |title=China's economy continues to bounce back from virus slump |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54594877 |access-date=9 January 2021 |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127143906/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54594877 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=China's economic recovery continues but signals mixed in October |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Caixin/China-s-economic-recovery-continues-but-signals-mixed-in-October |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=Nikkei Asia |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104034127/https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Caixin/China-s-economic-recovery-continues-but-signals-mixed-in-October |url-status=live }}</ref>

Infection rates increased in 2022, and on 3 April of that year, China reported 13,146 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which was the highest single-day total of new cases since the height of the 2020 outbreak.<ref name="France24 China reports" /> Following [[2022 COVID-19 protests in China|nationwide protests]] in November and December of that year, the Chinese government relaxed many of its previous restrictions, effectively ending the zero-COVID policy and leading to a massive surge in cases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Hannah |last2=Gan |first2=Nectar |last3=McCarthy |first3=Simone |last4=Wang |first4=Selina |last5=Zhang |first5=Mengchen |date=2022-12-24 |title=Leaked notes from Chinese health officials estimate 250 million Covid-19 infections in December: reports |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/23/china/china-covid-infections-250-million-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224034306/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/23/china/china-covid-infections-250-million-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Graphics ==
{{Main article|Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China}}

== Context ==
{{See also|2002–2004 SARS outbreak}}
New infectious diseases impose a serious threat to the health of the general public. Their origins are often mysterious despite intensive research efforts.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wu|first1=Fan |last2=Zhao|first2=Su |last3=Yu|first3=Bin |last4=Chen|first4=Yan-Mei |last5=Wang|first5=Wen |last6=Song|first6=Zhi-Gang |last7=Hu|first7=Yi |last8=Tao|first8=Zhao-Wu |last9=Tian|first9=Jun-Hua |last10=Pei|first10=Yuan-Yuan |last11=Yuan|first11=Ming-Li |date=3 February 2020|title=A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China|journal=Nature |volume=579 |issue=7798 |pages=265–269|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2008-3 |pmid=32015508|pmc=7094943 |bibcode=2020Natur.579..265W |issn=1476-4687}}</ref> Although [[Coronavirus|human coronaviruses]] (CoVs) had been known as major [[pathogen]]s to cause the [[common cold]],<ref>{{Citation|last1=Tyrrell|first1=David A. J.|title=Coronaviruses|year=1996|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7782/|work=Medical Microbiology|editor-last=Baron|editor-first=Samuel|edition=4th|publisher=University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston|isbn=978-0-9631172-1-2|pmid=21413266|access-date=5 February 2020|last2=Myint|first2=Steven H.|archive-date=10 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310092315/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7782/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kahn-2005">{{Cite journal|last1=Kahn|first1=Jeffrey S.|last2=McIntosh|first2=Kenneth |year=2005|title=History and Recent Advances in Coronavirus Discovery|journal=The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal |volume=24|issue=11|pages=S223–7, discussion S226 |doi=10.1097/01.inf.0000188166.17324.60|pmid=16378050|s2cid=10654941|issn=0891-3668|doi-access=free}}</ref> a new species of coronavirus, namely [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus|SARS-CoV]] caused an epidemic involving 29 countries during 2002–03 which infected 8098 persons and killed 774 of them.<ref name="Kahn-2005" /> The evidence shows that the virus might have originated from an animal coronavirus, but somehow entered the human population.<ref name="Kahn-2005" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Al-Omari|first1=Awad |last2=Rabaan|first2=Ali A. |last3=Salih|first3=Samer |last4=Al-Tawfiq|first4=Jaffar A. |last5=Memish|first5=Ziad A. |year=2019|title=MERS coronavirus outbreak: Implications for emerging viral infections|journal=Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease |volume=93|issue=3|pages=265–285 |doi=10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2018.10.011|issn=1879-0070|pmid=30413355|pmc=7127703 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=To|first1=Kelvin K. W.|last2=Hung|first2=Ivan F. N.|last3=Chan|first3=Jasper F. W.|last4=Yuen|first4=Kwok-Yung |year=2013|title=From SARS coronavirus to novel animal and human coronaviruses|journal=Journal of Thoracic Disease|volume=5|issue=Suppl 2|pages=S103–S108 |doi=10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.06.02|issn=2072-1439|pmc=3747523|pmid=23977429}}</ref> Its outbreak also implies that animal coronaviruses could be a potential danger to humans.<ref name="Kahn-2005" />

Since [[Timeline of the SARS outbreak|the 2003 SARS outbreak]], the general public and the scientific community in China have been worried about the potential return of the deadly virus which motivated the Chinese government to reform its public health system to handle the next public health crisis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2005-01-14/06164826542s.shtml |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:警惕非典再来（今日谈）|last=Tang|first=Song |date=14 January 2005|website=People's Daily|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200205142636/http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2005-01-14/06164826542s.shtml |archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com.cn/GB/keji/1059/2247790.html |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:非典之后再回首|last=Bai|first=Jianfeng |date=16 December 2003|website=People's Daily|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200205142639/http://www.people.com.cn/GB/keji/1059/2247790.html |archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Liu-2013">{{cite web|url=http://health.sohu.com/20130226/n367086195.shtml |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:钟南山：如果"非典"再来一次 不会成为挑战|last=Liu|first=Weining |date=25 February 2013|website=[[Yangcheng Evening News]]|via=Sohu|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200205142638/http://health.sohu.com/20130226/n367086195.shtml |archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> As part of the reform, China expanded the laboratory networks to handle the pathogens of the infectious diseases which included a newly built [[Biosafety level|BSL-4]] laboratory in Wuhan and a [[State Key Laboratories|national key laboratory]] to investigate into pneumonia with unclear causes.<ref name="Zhang-2013">{{cite web|url=http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2013/4/276695.shtm |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:致命病毒：再相逢能否从容|last=Zhang|first=Lin |date=12 April 2013|website=China Science Daily|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205142641/http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2013/4/276695.shtm |archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> [[Zeng Guang]], the chief scientist at [[Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention|China CDC]] believed that a quicker publication of the epidemic information was a lesson that China learned from the SARS outbreak as the lack of information release worsened the outbreak.<ref name="Zhang-2013" />

With the improved public health system, China managed to handle several public health emergencies. In coping with the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak starting from Mexico, China developed and distributed vaccines to 100 million people within months as an active prevention.<ref name="Liu-2013" /> During the 2013 [[Influenza A virus subtype H7N9|H7N9]] outbreak in East China, the country's health system identified the pathogen 5 days after the outbreak. Test kits for diagnosis were designed and distributed to all mainland provinces 3 days after the identification. Within months, effective vaccines were developed. Chinese academic [[Li Lanjuan]] and her group were the first to reveal the virus's transmission methods, molecular mechanisms and effective treatment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2018-01/10/nw.D110000zgqnb_20180110_1-04.htm |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:十年建起一道防治新发传染病屏障|last=Li|first=Jianping |date=10 January 2018|website=China Youth Daily|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200205142644/http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2018-01/10/nw.D110000zgqnb_20180110_1-04.htm |archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>

However, ''[[Southern Metropolis Daily]]'' stated that although people paid more attention to public health, the government's funding to the health system was far from enough as CDCs in smaller municipalities had to reduce their staff. Ten years after the SARS outbreak, few people wore a face mask when they had respiratory symptoms and the hospitals were cutting the fever clinics off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hn.ifeng.com/zixun/detail_2013_03/06/618822_0.shtml |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:如果再来一次非典......|date=6 March 2013|website=Southern Metropolis Daily|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160104162035/http://hn.ifeng.com/zixun/detail_2013_03/06/618822_0.shtml |archive-date=4 January 2016|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> Despite confidence in winning the next battle against [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS]], [[Zhong Nanshan]] who earned fame in fighting the SARS outbreak in 2003 still held a conservative attitude to whether the Chinese officials would lie to the people about a disease outbreak.<ref name="Liu-2013" /> As of 2017, mainland China had only 36 critical care beds per million people; in comparison, South Korea had 106, and Taiwan 285, beds per million people.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zero-Covid policy: why is China still having severe lockdowns? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/29/china-zero-covid-policy-what-is-it-and-why-lockdowns-quarantine-protests |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=29 November 2022 |language=en |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129221634/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/29/china-zero-covid-policy-what-is-it-and-why-lockdowns-quarantine-protests |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Phua |first1=Jason |last2=Faruq |first2=Mohammad Omar |last3=Kulkarni |first3=Atul P. |last4=Redjeki |first4=Ike Sri |last5=Detleuxay |first5=Khamsay |last6=Mendsaikhan |first6=Naranpurev |last7=Sann |first7=Kyi Kyi |last8=Shrestha |first8=Babu Raja |last9=Hashmi |first9=Madiha |last10=Palo |first10=Jose Emmanuel M. |last11=Haniffa |first11=Rashan |last12=Wang |first12=Chunting |last13=Hashemian |first13=Seyed Mohammad Reza |last14=Konkayev |first14=Aidos |last15=Mat Nor |first15=Mohd Basri |last16=Patjanasoontorn |first16=Boonsong |last17=Nafees |first17=Khalid Mahmood Khan |last18=Ling |first18=Lowell |last19=Nishimura |first19=Masaji |last20=Al Bahrani |first20=Maher Jaffer |last21=Arabi |first21=Yaseen M. |last22=Lim |first22=Chae-Man |last23=Fang |first23=Wen-Feng |title=Critical Care Bed Capacity in Asian Countries and Regions |journal=Critical Care Medicine |date=May 2020 |volume=48 |issue=5 |pages=654–662 |doi=10.1097/CCM.0000000000004222 |pmid=31923030 |s2cid=210150861 |url=http://irep.iium.edu.my/78953/7/78953_Critical%20care%20bed%20capacity%20in%20Asian%20countries%20and%20regions_MYRA.pdf |access-date=19 December 2022 |archive-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320201308/http://irep.iium.edu.my/78953/7/78953_Critical%20care%20bed%20capacity%20in%20Asian%20countries%20and%20regions_MYRA.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Early cases surrounding the animal market suggested potential animal-to-human transmission while later the virus was found to be able to transmit from ill people to others.<ref name="CDC-2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html|title=About Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)|date=3 February 2020|website=CDC|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-date=11 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211105920/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There have been cases where [[asymptomatic carrier|asymptomatic patients]] transmitted the virus to others.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rothe|first1=Camilla |author-link1=Camilla Rothe |last2=Schunk|first2=Mirjam |last3=Sothmann|first3=Peter |last4=Bretzel|first4=Gisela |last5=Froeschl|first5=Guenter |last6=Wallrauch|first6=Claudia |last7=Zimmer|first7=Thorbjörn| last8=Thiel|first8=Verena |last9=Janke|first9=Christian |last10=Guggemos|first10=Wolfgang |last11=Seilmaier|first11=Michael |date=30 January 2020|title=Transmission of 2019-nCoV Infection from an Asymptomatic Contact in Germany|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=382 |issue=10 |pages=970–971 |doi=10.1056/NEJMc2001468|pmid=32003551|pmc=7120970 |issn=0028-4793}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html |title=Transmission of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) {{!}} CDC|date=31 January 2020|website=[[cdc.gov]]|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200128152653/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html |archive-date=28 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> According to China NHC, the virus transmits by droplets or close contact<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yzygj/s7653p/202001/4294563ed35b43209b31739bd0785e67/files/7a9309111267475a99d4306962c8bf78.pdf |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎诊疗方案（试行第四版）|website=[[National Health Commission]]|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200128055836/http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yzygj/s7653p/202001/4294563ed35b43209b31739bd0785e67/files/7a9309111267475a99d4306962c8bf78.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2020}}</ref> while some proposed that feces could also be where the virus hides and transmits from.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/02/asia-pacific/science-health-asia-pacific/coronavirus-feces-risk-of-spread/ |title=Coronavirus lurking in feces may be a hidden source of spread|date=2 February 2020|work=Japan Times|access-date=5 February 2020|issn=0447-5763|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200203150657/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/02/asia-pacific/science-health-asia-pacific/coronavirus-feces-risk-of-spread/ |archive-date=3 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-01/coronavirus-lurking-in-feces-may-reveal-hidden-risk-of-spread|title=Coronavirus Lurking in Feces May Reveal Hidden Risk of Spread|last=Gale|first=Jason|date=1 February 2020|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-date=1 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201213825/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-01/coronavirus-lurking-in-feces-may-reveal-hidden-risk-of-spread|url-status=live}}</ref> The typical symptoms of the viral infection included fever, dry cough, dyspnea, headache and pneumonia<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Zhou|first1=Peng |last2=Yang|first2=Xing-Lou |last3=Wang|first3=Xian-Guang |last4=Hu|first4=Ben |last5=Zhang|first5=Lei |last6=Zhang|first6=Wei |last7=Si|first7=Hao-Rui |last8=Zhu|first8=Yan |last9=Li|first9=Bei |last10=Huang|first10=Chao-Lin |last11=Chen|first11=Hui-Dong |date=3 February 2020|title=A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin|journal=Nature|volume=579 |issue=7798 |pages=270–273 |doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2012-7|pmid=32015507|pmc=7095418 |bibcode=2020Natur.579..270Z |issn=1476-4687}}</ref> which are usually developed after an incubation time lasting as long as 2 weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html |title=Symptoms of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) {{!}} CDC|date=31 January 2020 |website=cdc.gov|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200130202038/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html |archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The existence of mild but infectious cases complicated the epidemic control efforts.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mahase|first=Elisabeth |date=28 January 2020|title=China coronavirus: mild but infectious cases may make it hard to control outbreak, report warns|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m325 |journal=BMJ |volume=368|pages=m325|doi=10.1136/bmj.m325 |issn=1756-1833|pmid=31992570|s2cid=210949384 |access-date=5 February 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200128133825/https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m325 |archive-date=28 January 2020|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}</ref> It is also noticed that patients might be able to transmit the virus even during the incubation period.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/health/coronavirus-symptoms-germany.html |title=Even Without Symptoms, Wuhan Coronavirus May Spread, Experts Fear|last=Rabin|first=Roni Caryn|date=4 February 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=5 February 2020 |issn=0362-4331|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200205135054/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/health/coronavirus-symptoms-germany.html |archive-date=5 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Financial Times]]'' described the outbreak as China's [[Chernobyl disaster|Chernobyl]] moment, increasing the pressure on its leader, Xi Jinping. A trade war with the US, the Hong Kong protests, and an African swine fever outbreak that led to a pork shortage already placed pressure on the current government.<ref name="Anderlini-2020">{{cite web|last=Anderlini|first=Jamil|date=10 February 2020|title=Xi Jinping faces China's Chernobyl moment|url=https://www.ft.com/content/6f7fdbae-4b3b-11ea-95a0-43d18ec715f5|access-date=12 February 2020|work=[[Financial Times]]|archive-date=11 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211153031/https://www.ft.com/content/6f7fdbae-4b3b-11ea-95a0-43d18ec715f5|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Coughlin|first=Con|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/12/coronavirus-crisis-could-chinas-chernobyl/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/12/coronavirus-crisis-could-chinas-chernobyl/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=The coronavirus crisis could be China's Chernobyl|date=12 February 2020|work=The Telegraph|access-date=12 February 2020|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

At the end of December 2019, [[Henan]] announced the suspension of passenger trains to and from Wuhan. In early January 2020, the local government of Henan Province with its complete disinfection measures, effective and intensive publicity, a strong awareness of epidemic prevention and quarantine among the people, the setting up of return spots at the village entrance and even the use of garbage trucks, the digging of trenches to block roads connecting Hubei and the hanging of slogans such as "returning home with sickness is to dishonor your parents." {{lang|zh-Hans|#抄河南的作业}} ({{Zh|c=|s=|t=|p=|l=copy Henan's homework}}) became a trending hashtag on Weibo.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/25/c_1125501347.htm|script-title=zh:既过年关，也过难关|author=田宇|date=25 January 2020|work=人民网|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125183422/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/25/c_1125501347.htm|archive-date=25 January 2020|language=zh|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2020-01-25/1402907.html|script-title=zh:防控肺炎病毒，"硬核"河南究竟有多硬核？|author=何小桃|date=25 January 2020|script-work=zh:每日经济新闻|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126185019/http://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2020-01-25/1402907.html|archive-date=26 January 2020|language=zh|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/368787344_617717|script-title=zh:快评丨"快来抄作业"，面对疫情防控，河南做对了什么？|author=张丰|date=24 January 2020|script-work=zh:红星新闻|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125145237/http://www.sohu.com/a/368787344_617717|archive-date=25 January 2020|language=zh|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, cutting the roads off without authorization is illegal in mainland China as Xinhua and the Public Security Ministry pointed out.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/29/c_1125509195.htm|script-title=zh:擅自封路是"硬核抗疫"？违法乱为不可纵！|date=29 January 2020|agency=Xinhua News Agency|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204100038/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/29/c_1125509195.htm|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/30/c_1125513503.htm|script-title=zh:拦截、断路、阻断交通？部委回应：行为违法，将依法妥处|date=30 January 2020|agency=Xinhua News Agency|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131202547/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/30/c_1125513503.htm|archive-date=31 January 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> The Ministry of Transport asked the local governments to take the principle of "block one, not three" ({{Zh|c=一断三不断|s=|t=|p=}}), that is, to block the virus from spreading, but not to block roads, traffic and Internet access, the transportation of emergency supplies and the transportation of essential goods.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/26/c_1125503648.htm|script-title=zh:交通运输部：按照"一断三不断"原则推动工作|date=26 January 2020|agency=Xinhua News Agency|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127152131/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/26/c_1125503648.htm|archive-date=27 January 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> [[File:雁塔_曲江收费站的防疫检查_01.jpg|thumb|Staff examining cars for epidemic control at [[Qujiang New District|Qujiang]] entry to [[Xi'an]] Bypass]]
[[File:Check for 2019-nCoV in Jishuitan metro station (Beijing).jpg|thumb|Body temperature screening at [[Jishuitan station|Jishuitan subway station]], Beijing]]

== First outbreak ==
{{Main|2019-2020 COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China}}
{{Further|COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei}}
{{see also|Investigations into the origin of COVID-19}}

Based on retrospective analysis published in ''[[The Lancet]]'' in late January, the first confirmed patient started experiencing symptoms on 1 December 2019,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Huang |first1=Chaolin |last2=Wang |first2=Yeming |last3=Li |first3=Xingwang |last4=Ren |first4=Lili |last5=Zhao |first5=Jianping |last6=Hu |first6=Yi |last7=Zhang |first7=Li |last8=Fan |first8=Guohui |last9=Xu |first9=Jiuyang |last10=Gu |first10=Xiaoying |last11=Cheng |first11=Zhenshun |date=15 February 2020 |title=Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China |url= |journal=The Lancet |volume=395 |issue=10223 |pages=497–506 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5 |issn=0140-6736 |pmc=7159299 |pmid=31986264}}</ref> though the ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' later reported that a retrospective analysis showed the first case may have been a 55-year-old patient from Hubei province as early as 17 November.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2020 |title=China's first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17 |work=South China Morning Post |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313004217/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Helen |date=13 March 2020 |title=First Covid-19 case happened in November, China government records show—report |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/first-covid-19-case-happened-in-november-china-government-records-show-report |access-date=15 March 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320235432/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/first-covid-19-case-happened-in-november-china-government-records-show-report |url-status=live }}</ref>

The outbreak went unnoticed until 26 December 2019, when [[Zhang Jixian]], director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Hubei Xinhua Hospital, noticed a cluster of patients with pneumonia of unknown origin, several of whom had connections to the [[Huanan Seafood Market]] in Wuhan.<ref name="Caixin-29Feb20202">{{cite news |last1=Yu |first1=Gao |last2=Yanfeng |first2=Peng |last3=Rui |first3=Yang |last4=Yuding |first4=Feng |last5=Danmeng |first5=Ma |last6=Murphy |first6=Flynn |last7=Wei |first7=Han |last8=Shen |first8=Timmy |date=29 February 2020 |title=In Depth: How Early Signs of a SARS-Like Virus Were Spotted, Spread, and Throttled |publisher=Caixin Global |url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2020-02-29/in-depth-how-early-signs-of-a-sars-like-virus-were-spotted-spread-and-throttled-101521745.html |access-date=29 December 2020 |archive-date=18 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218150248/https://www.caixinglobal.com/2020-02-29/in-depth-how-early-signs-of-a-sars-like-virus-were-spotted-spread-and-throttled-101521745.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She subsequently alerted the hospital, as well as municipal and provincial health authorities, which issued an alert on 30 December.<ref name="Caixin-29Feb20202" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=www.bjnews.com.cn |title=武汉疾控证实：当地现不明原因肺炎病人，发病数在统计 |url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2019/12/31/668430.html |access-date=29 September 2020 |website=www.bjnews.com.cn |archive-date=31 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231045932/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2019/12/31/668430.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Results from patient samples obtained on 29–30 December indicated the presence of a novel coronavirus, related to [[SARS]].<ref name="Caixin-29Feb20202" />

[[File:2020-1-23_湖北黄冈黄州区的一个公交车上.jpg|right|thumb|Most people on a bus wearing a mask, Hubei province, 23 January 2020.]]
[[File:Covid_19_new_cases_and_deaths_China_showing_Hubei_lockdown.png|center|500x500px|Semi-log graph of new cases and deaths in China during COVID-19 epidemic showing the lockdown and lifting]]
Semi-log graph of 3-day rolling average of new cases and deaths in China during COVID-19 epidemic showing the lockdown on 23 January and partial lifting on 19 March.

Within three weeks of the first known cases, the government built sixteen large mobile hospitals in Wuhan and sent 40,000 medical staff to the city.<ref name=":02422">{{Cite book |last=Jin |first=Keyu |title=The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism |date=2023 |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-1-9848-7828-1 |location=New York |author-link=Keyu Jin}}</ref>{{Rp|page=137}}

=== Spread beyond Wuhan ===
[[File:COVID-19-China-log.svg|right|thumb|Number of cases (blue) and number of deaths (red) on a [[logarithmic scale]]. Numbers including Hong Kong and Macau.]]
{{See also|Template:2019–20 coronavirus pandemic data/China medical cases by province|label 1=Current toll of confirmed cases, deaths and recovery by province}}On 22 January, Hubei launched a Class 2 Response to Public Health Emergency.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 January 2020 |script-title=zh:湖北省人民政府关于加强新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎防控工作的通告 |url=http://www.hubei.gov.cn/xxgk/gsgg/202001/t20200122_2013895.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200205092902/http://www.hubei.gov.cn/xxgk/gsgg/202001/t20200122_2013895.shtml |archive-date=5 February 2020 |access-date=22 January 2020 |publisher=Hubei Province People's Government}}</ref> Ahead of the Hubei authorities, a Class 1 Response to Public Health Emergency, the highest response level was announced by the mainland province of [[Zhejiang]] on 23.<ref name="zhe1232">{{cite news |date=23 January 2020 |script-title=zh:浙江新增新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例17例 |publisher=Provincial Health Commission of Zhejiang via The Beijing Times |editor=杨利 |url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/23/678373.html |access-date=23 January 2020 |archive-date=24 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124013857/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/23/678373.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="zj-yiji2">{{cite news |author=俞菀 |date=23 January 2020 |script-title=zh:浙江：新增新型冠状病毒感染肺炎确诊病例17例 启动重大公共突发卫生事件一级响应 |language=zh-cn |agency=Xinhua News Agency |editor=周楚卿 |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/23/c_1125497886.htm |access-date=23 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127085748/http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/23/c_1125497886.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Stringent measures such as [[COVID-19 lockdown in China|lockdown of Wuhan and the wider Hubei province]] and face mask mandates were introduced around 23 January,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cadell |first1=Cate |last2=Chen |first2=Yawen |date=8 April 2020 |title='Painful lesson': how a military-style lockdown unfolded in Wuhan |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-wuhan-scientists-insi-idINKBN21Q0KF |access-date=9 January 2021 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111155710/https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-wuhan-scientists-insi-idINKBN21Q0KF |url-status=live }}</ref> which significantly lowered and delayed the epidemic peak according to epidemiology modelling.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Prem |first1=Kiesha |last2=Liu |first2=Yang |last3=Russell |first3=Timothy W. |last4=Kucharski |first4=Adam J. |last5=Eggo |first5=Rosalind M. |last6=Davies |first6=Nicholas |last7=Flasche |first7=Stefan |last8=Clifford |first8=Samuel |last9=Pearson |first9=Carl A. B. |last10=Munday |first10=James D. |last11=Abbott |first11=Sam |date=1 May 2020 |title=The effect of control strategies to reduce social mixing on outcomes of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, China: a modelling study |url= |journal=The Lancet Public Health |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=e261–e270 |doi=10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30073-6 |issn=2468-2667 |pmc=7158905 |pmid=32220655 |doi-access=free}}</ref> [[Guangdong]] and [[Hunan]] followed suit later on the day. On the following day, Hubei<ref name="CBN-2020">{{Cite news |date=24 January 2020 |script-title=zh:多个省市启动一级响应抗击疫情，为何湖北省却不是最快的？ |url=https://www.yicai.com/news/100480475.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202154107/https://www.yicai.com/news/100480475.html |archive-date=2 February 2020 |script-work=zh:[[:zh:第一财经|第一财经]] |trans-work=China Business Network}}</ref> and other 13 mainland provinces<ref>{{cite web |date=24 January 2020 |script-title=zh:北京市启动重大突发公共卫生事件一级响应 |url=http://news.ifeng.com/c/7tUoW6aZsa8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124091242/https://news.ifeng.com/c/7tUoW6aZsa8 |archive-date=24 January 2020 |access-date=24 January 2020 |work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 January 2020 |script-title=zh:上海、天津、重庆、安徽启动重大突发公共卫生事件一级响应机制 |agency=Xinhua News Agency |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/24/c_1125500208.htm |url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080851/http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/24/c_1125500208.htm |archive-date=27 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=储白珊 |date=24 January 2020 |script-title=zh:福建启动重大突发公共卫生事件一级响应机制 |url=http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202001/24/WS5e2b0290e4b0e6e58393c30d.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080909/http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202001/24/WS5e2b0290e4b0e6e58393c30d.html |archive-date=27 January 2020 |access-date=24 January 2020 |script-work=zh:福建日报}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=苏子牧 |date=24 January 2020 |script-title=zh:【武汉肺炎疫情】中国14省市启动一级响应 |url=https://www.dwnews.com/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/60166093/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD14%E7%9C%81%E5%B8%82%E5%90%AF%E5%8A%A8%E4%B8%80%E7%BA%A7%E5%93%8D%E5%BA%94 |access-date=24 January 2020 |work=多维新闻 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080902/https://www.dwnews.com/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/60166093/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD14%E7%9C%81%E5%B8%82%E5%90%AF%E5%8A%A8%E4%B8%80%E7%BA%A7%E5%93%8D%E5%BA%94 |url-status=live }}</ref> also launched a Class 1 Response. By 29, all parts of mainland initiated a Class 1 Response after Tibet upgraded its response level on that day.<ref name="Caixin-2020">{{cite web |date=29 January 2020 |script-title=zh:中国内地31省份全部启动突发公共卫生事件一级响应 |url=http://china.caixin.com/2020-01-29/101509411.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202154111/http://china.caixin.com/2020-01-29/101509411.html |archive-date=2 February 2020 |access-date=2 February 2020 |website=Caixin}}</ref>

Yet, by 29 January, the virus was found to have spread to all [[Provinces of China|provinces of mainland China]].<ref name="HKC-2020" /><ref name="AllRegions22" /><ref name="Declared23" /> Hubei party secretary Jiao Chaoliang was removed from office for failure to contain the outbreak.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last1=Marquis |first1=Christopher |url= |title=Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise |last2=Qiao |first2=Kunyuan |date=2022 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0-300-26883-6 |location=New Haven |doi=10.2307/j.ctv3006z6k |jstor=j.ctv3006z6k |oclc=1348572572 |author-link=Christopher Marquis |s2cid=253067190}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=194–195}} On 31 January, the [[World Health Organization]] declared the outbreak a [[Public Health Emergency of International Concern]].<ref name="Declared23"/> A severe shortage of [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] and other protective gear<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Safi |first1=Michael |last2=Rourke |first2=Alison |last3=Greenfield |first3=Patrick |last4=Giuffrida |first4=Angela |last5=Kollewe |first5=Julia |last6=Oltermann |first6=Philip |date=3 February 2020 |title=China issues 'urgent' appeal for protective medical equipment – as it happened |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/feb/03/coronavirus-live-updates-china-wuhan-outbreak-evacuations-flights-latest-news-death-toll-climbs-passing-sars |url-status=live |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204074810/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/feb/03/coronavirus-live-updates-china-wuhan-outbreak-evacuations-flights-latest-news-death-toll-climbs-passing-sars |archive-date=4 February 2020 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> led several countries to send international aid, including medical supplies, to China.<ref name="africanews.com2">{{cite web |date=5 February 2020 |title=Equatorial Guinea donates $2m to China to help combat coronavirus |url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/02/05/equatorial-guinea-donates-2m-to-china-to-help-combat-coronavirus/ |website=Africanews |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-date=13 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413084438/https://www.africanews.com/2020/02/05/equatorial-guinea-donates-2m-to-china-to-help-combat-coronavirus/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Xinhuanet.com2">{{cite news |date=13 February 2020 |title=Feature: Japan offers warm support to China in battle against virus outbreak – Xinhua |publisher=Xinhuanet.com |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/13/c_138779612.htm |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818192300/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/13/c_138779612.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg2">{{cite news |date=21 February 2020 |title=China's Xi Writes Thank-You Letter to Bill Gates for Virus Help |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-22/china-s-xi-writes-thank-you-letter-to-bill-gates-for-virus-help |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-date=12 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412183804/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-22/china-s-xi-writes-thank-you-letter-to-bill-gates-for-virus-help |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 March, authorities began to lift travel restrictions in Hubei outside of Wuhan and people need to confirm their "Green Code" health classification to travel.<ref>{{cite news |title=China to lift travel restrictions in Hubei after months of coronavirus lockdown |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/china-to-lift-travel-restrictions-in-hubei-after-months-of-coronavirus-lockdown |work=The Guardian |date=2020-03-24 |access-date=7 February 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620173109/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/china-to-lift-travel-restrictions-in-hubei-after-months-of-coronavirus-lockdown |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 April, Wuhan lifts its lockdown, all transportation in the city were resumed.

== April 2020–December 2021 ==

=== 2020 ===
On 2 April 2020, the government ordered a Hubei-like lockdown in [[Jia County, Henan]], after a woman tested positive for the COVID-19. It is suspected that she may have been infected when she visited a hospital where three doctors tested positive for the virus, despite showing no symptoms.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-02/chinese-county-back-under-lockdown-after-infection-re-emerges |title=Chinese County Back Under Lockdown After Coronavirus Cases Re-Emerge |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=2 April 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=3 April 2020 |archive-date=3 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403152816/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-02/chinese-county-back-under-lockdown-after-infection-re-emerges |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 9 April, a COVID-19 cluster was detected in Heilongjiang Province, which started with an asymptomatic patient [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|returning from the United States]] and quarantining at home. The US [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|CDC]] reported that the infections were initially spread through a shared elevator used at different times, and led to at least 71 cases by 22 April.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Jingtao |last2=Huang |first2=Jiaquan |last3=Xiang |first3=Dandan |title=Large SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Caused by Asymptomatic Traveler, China |url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/9/20-1798_article?deliveryName=USCDC_333-DM32083 |url-status=live |journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases |year=2020 |volume=26 |issue=9 |pages= 2260–2263|doi=10.3201/eid2609.201798 |pmid=32603652 |pmc=7454089 |s2cid=220282338 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819124519/https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/9/20-1798_article?deliveryName=USCDC_333-DM32083 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020}}</ref>

In early May, restrictions were tightened in [[Harbin]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Harbin city shuts eateries, coronavirus curbs ease elsewhere in China |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-idUSKBN22E07B |access-date=3 May 2020 |work=Reuters |date=2 May 2020 |archive-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502174014/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-idUSKBN22E07B |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June, an outbreak with 45 people testing positive at [[Xinfadi Market]] in [[Beijing]] caused some alarm.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beijing district in 'wartime emergency' after virus cluster at major food market |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-beijing-idUSKBN23K03V |access-date=18 June 2020 |work=Reuters |date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=17 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617025540/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-beijing-idUSKBN23K03V |url-status=live }}</ref> Authorities closed the market and nearby schools; eleven neighborhoods in the [[Fengtai District]] started requiring temperature checks and were closed to visitors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/13/876544822/beijing-in-wartime-emergency-mode-amid-fresh-cluster-of-coronavirus-cases|title=Beijing In 'Wartime Emergency Mode' Amid Fresh Cluster Of Coronavirus Cases|newspaper=NPR|date=13 June 2020|last1=Dwyer|first1=Colin|last2=Cheng|first2=Amy|access-date=14 July 2020|archive-date=14 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714001446/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/13/876544822/beijing-in-wartime-emergency-mode-amid-fresh-cluster-of-coronavirus-cases|url-status=live}}</ref> By this time, public health technology included special [[leaf blower]] backpacks designed to vent hot air onto outdoor surfaces.<ref name="dt19j">{{cite news |title=China releases genome of virus that caused Beijing outbreak, saying it could be linked to Europe |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/19/china-releases-genome-virus-caused-beijing-outbreak-saying-could/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/19/china-releases-genome-virus-caused-beijing-outbreak-saying-could/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |agency=Reuters |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=19 June 2020 |location=see photo by Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Reuters}}{{cbignore}}</ref> By the evening of 23 June, Chinese Vice Premier [[Sun Chunlan]] declared that the situation had been brought under control.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vice premier stresses more targeted COVID-19 control in Beijing - Xinhua |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/23/c_139161909.htm |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=www.xinhuanet.com |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126004826/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/23/c_139161909.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> China's traffic authorities vowed to strictly guard traffic out of Beijing: those with abnormal [[Health Code|health QR codes]] or without recently-taken negative PCR test proof would not be allowed to take public transportation or drive out of the capital.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Dan |title=Life After COVID-19: The View From Beijing |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/life-after-covid-the-view-from-beijing.html |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=Intelligencer |date=9 April 2020 |language=en-us |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126004852/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/life-after-covid-the-view-from-beijing.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gan |first1=Nectar |last2=Culver |first2=David |title=China is fighting the coronavirus with a digital QR code. Here's how it works |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/asia/china-coronavirus-qr-code-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=CNN |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126004826/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/asia/china-coronavirus-qr-code-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=As Chinese authorities expand use of health tracking apps, privacy concerns grow |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-tech/as-chinese-authorities-expand-use-of-health-tracking-apps-privacy-concerns-grow-idUSKBN23212V |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=Reuters |date=26 May 2020 |language=en |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126004826/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-tech/as-chinese-authorities-expand-use-of-health-tracking-apps-privacy-concerns-grow-idUSKBN23212V |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 July, China saw its highest number of daily cases since March, mostly from outbreaks in Xinjiang and [[Liaoning]],<ref name="NewScientist">{{cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2249982-coronavirus-second-wave-hits-asia-as-global-cases-continue-to-soar/|title=Coronavirus: Second wave hits Asia as global cases continue to soar|date=27 July 2020|website=NewScientist|author=Adam Vaughan|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731172837/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2249982-coronavirus-second-wave-hits-asia-as-global-cases-continue-to-soar/|url-status=live}}</ref> with 61 new cases, up from 46 cases a day earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-07-26/china-reports-61-new-covid-19-cases-for-sunday-highest-daily-domestic-infections-since-march-6|title=China Reports 61 New COVID-19 Cases for Sunday, Highest Daily Domestic Infections Since March 6|website=US News|date=26 July 2020|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727051117/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-07-26/china-reports-61-new-covid-19-cases-for-sunday-highest-daily-domestic-infections-since-march-6|url-status=live}} Reporting by Huizhong Wu, Judy Hua and Ryan Woo; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Kenneth Maxwell</ref> This increased to 127 daily COVID cases on 30 July.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china/china-reports-127-new-coronavirus-cases-highest-since-march-5-idUSKCN24W01L|title=China reports 127 new coronavirus cases, highest since March 5|website=Reuters|date=30 July 2020|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731185427/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china/china-reports-127-new-coronavirus-cases-highest-since-march-5-idUSKCN24W01L|url-status=live}} Reporting by David Stanway and Wang Jing; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman</ref> The daily reported cases subsequently went down, to 16 on 23 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases/china-reports-16-new-covid-19-cases-eighth-day-without-local-infections-idUSKBN25K011|title=China reports 16 new COVID-19 cases, eighth day without local infections|website=Reuters|author=Reporting by Jing Wang and David Stanway; writing by Se Young Lee; Editing by Himani Sarkar|date=23 August 2020|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=24 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824203432/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases/china-reports-16-new-covid-19-cases-eighth-day-without-local-infections-idUSKBN25K011|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July, Xinjiang province and its capital [[Ürümqi]] were locked down in the wake of the discovery of new cases in the city.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 August 2020 |title=Xinjiang residents protest online against COVID-19 lockdown |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-xinjiang-residents-protest-online-coronavirus-lockdown-13047664 |url-status=live |work=[[CNA (TV network)|Channel News Asia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908075307/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-xinjiang-residents-protest-online-coronavirus-lockdown-13047664 |archive-date=8 September 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Javier C. Hernández |date=25 August 2020 |title=China Locks Down Xinjiang to Fight Covid-19, Angering Residents |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/world/asia/china-xinjiang-covid.html |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911022406/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/world/asia/china-xinjiang-covid.html |archive-date=11 September 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020}}</ref>

On 11 October, officials in [[Qingdao]] urged to carry out contact tracing and mass testing after 12 new cases were found connected to the Qingdao Chest Hospital. On 12 October, it was announced that Qingdao would test all 9 million of its residents.<ref>{{Cite news|title=China is testing an entire city of 9 million for COVID-19 after it found 12 cases connected to a hospital there|work=Business Insider|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/china-testing-qingdao-city-9-million-after-12-cases-hospital-2020-10|access-date=26 October 2020|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028214549/https://www.businessinsider.com/china-testing-qingdao-city-9-million-after-12-cases-hospital-2020-10|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October, 137 asymptomatic cases were detected in [[Kashgar]], [[Xinjiang]] and were linked to a garment factory.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davidson|first=Helen|date=26 October 2020|title=China: new coronavirus outbreak detected in Xinjiang city of Kashgar|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/26/china-new-coronavirus-outbreak-detected-in-xinjiang-city-of-kashgar|access-date=6 November 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106043317/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/26/china-new-coronavirus-outbreak-detected-in-xinjiang-city-of-kashgar|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Dou|first=Eva|date=26 October 2020|title=China's Kashgar had a coronavirus outbreak. Within two days, 4.5 million people were tested.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-kashgar-xinjiang-coronavirus-outbreak/2020/10/26/6db14e6e-1748-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html|access-date=6 November 2020|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026085357/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-kashgar-xinjiang-coronavirus-outbreak/2020/10/26/6db14e6e-1748-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 18 December, a local case was reported in Beijing. It was the first local infection in 152 days in Beijing. As of 27 December, thirteen more cases have been detected.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Coronavirus: Beijing goes into emergency mode after five new cases recorded|work=South China Morning Post|date=27 December 2020|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3115474/coronavirus-beijing-goes-emergency-mode-after-five-new-cases|access-date=29 December 2020|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229035752/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3115474/coronavirus-beijing-goes-emergency-mode-after-five-new-cases|url-status=live}}</ref> Another outbreak linked to a traveler from South Korea was reported in Liaoning late December.

=== 2021 ===
In January 2021, many cities and districts in the province of Hebei, Jilin and Heilongjiang were put into lockdown to contain a new outbreak in the region.<ref name="Tian 2021">{{cite web | last=Tian | first=Yew Lun | title=As China COVID-19 cases rise, millions more placed under lockdown | work=[[Reuters]] | date=13 January 2021 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases-idUSKBN29I03G | access-date=16 January 2021 | archive-date=14 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114181331/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases-idUSKBN29I03G | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 7 January, [[Dalian]] authorities reported 51 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 31 asymptomatic carriers.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Xiaomin |first1=Zhang |title=More info released on Dalian outbreak |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202101/07/WS5ff6f2daa31024ad0baa1346.html |work=China Daily |date=7 January 2021 |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115071545/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202101/07/WS5ff6f2daa31024ad0baa1346.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 January, after reporting 63 new cases in the northern province of [[Hebei]], of which 20 were infections and 43 asymptomatic cases locally transmitted, the local Government decided to lockdown the provincial capital city of [[Shijiazhuang]], as most of the cases were detected there. On 9 January, the cities of Shijiazhuang and [[Xingtai]] with total population of 19 million, were placed under lockdown measures, with passenger trains suspended, as well as flights and coach service to Beijing at 300&nbsp;km distance in north east direction.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Coronavirus: Chinese city in lockdown as Hebei province has biggest outbreak in months|work=South China Morning Post|date=6 January 2021|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3116597/coronavirus-china-raises-alarm-after-63-local-infections-found|first1=Jane|last1=Cai|first2=Siqi|last2=Ji|access-date=7 January 2021|archive-date=7 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107113840/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3116597/coronavirus-china-raises-alarm-after-63-local-infections-found|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 14 January, Wangkui County of Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province moved into lockdown after reporting 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The virus sample taken from the cases in Suihua is reported to be similar to the strain identified in Dalian.<ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=China's Heilongjiang reports 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases |url=http://www.china.org.cn/china/2021-01/14/content_77114286.htm |work=China.org |date=14 January 2021 |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114022239/http://www.china.org.cn/china/2021-01/14/content_77114286.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also on 14 January, China reported the first death from the virus after eight months, a patient from [[Hebei]]. A team of experts from the [[WHO]] visited [[Wuhan]] to conduct investigations into the origin of the pandemic. They were also supposed to quarantine for two weeks prior to starting their inquiry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/china-records-first-covid-death-since-may-as-who-team-arrives-in-wuhan|title=China records first Covid death since May as WHO team arrives in Wuhan|access-date=14 January 2021|website=The Guardian|date=14 January 2021|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114060006/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/china-records-first-covid-death-since-may-as-who-team-arrives-in-wuhan|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 January, the city of [[Langfang]] of Hebei was put into lockdown.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Tim |date=15 January 2021 |title=China locks down 5 million people in Langfang City after one Covid case reported |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1384390/China-news-lockdown-Langfang-city-Covid-19-Beijing-coronavirus-latest-vn |work=Express |access-date=26 January 2021 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120141734/https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1384390/China-news-lockdown-Langfang-city-Covid-19-Beijing-coronavirus-latest-vn |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 18 January 11 regions in China were under ''de facto'' lockdown, including five districts in Heilongjiang and the cities of Gongzhuling and Tonghua in Jilin province.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=China Locks Down Two Northeast Cities Amid Covid-19 Resurgence |url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-01-19/china-locks-down-two-northeast-cities-amid-covid-19-resurgence-101652415.html |work=Caixin |date=19 January 2021 |access-date=26 January 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124033000/https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-01-19/china-locks-down-two-northeast-cities-amid-covid-19-resurgence-101652415.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 20 January, residents of [[Daxing District]] of Beijing were banned from leaving the capital region.<ref>{{cite news |title=Partial lockdown in Beijing over Covid-19 outbreak |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210120-partial-lockdown-in-beijing-over-covid-19-outbreak |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=France 24 |date=20 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126004850/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210120-partial-lockdown-in-beijing-over-covid-19-outbreak |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Daxing District of Beijing provides supplies for quarantined residents - Xinhua |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-01/21/c_139686305.htm |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=www.xinhuanet.com |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126004850/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-01/21/c_139686305.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 April, China saw the largest number of reported COVID-19 cases in over two months, with 15 new reported cases of local transmission in the city of [[Ruili]] on the Burmese border.<ref name="Reuters biggest daily case jump Ruili">{{cite news |title=China reports biggest daily COVID-19 case jump in over two months |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases-idUKKBN2BS00V |access-date=5 April 2021 |work=Reuters |date=5 April 2021 |archive-date=5 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405025134/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases-idUKKBN2BS00V |url-status=live }}</ref> This followed a previous outbreak in Ruili in September 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=New coronavirus cluster closes China-Myanmar bridge, sparks lockdown |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3127751/coronavirus-chinese-city-closes-border-bridge-myanmar-and |access-date=5 April 2021 |work=South China Morning Post |date=31 March 2021 |archive-date=5 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405070931/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3127751/coronavirus-chinese-city-closes-border-bridge-myanmar-and |url-status=live }}</ref> Unauthorized border crossings from Myanmar remain a concern, and the local government has started vaccinating Ruili residents to work towards herd immunity.<ref name="Reuters biggest daily case jump Ruili" />

On 29 May, authorities shut down some streets in [[Liwan District]] in [[Guangzhou]] due to an outbreak in Guangdong province.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3135333/covid-19-china-parts-guangzhou-city-shut-down-province-battles-latest |title=Covid-19 in China: parts of Guangzhou shut down as province battles latest outbreak |agency=South China Morning Post |date=29 May 2021 |access-date=30 May 2021 |archive-date=30 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530055400/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3135333/covid-19-china-parts-guangzhou-city-shut-down-province-battles-latest |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Foshan]]'s [[Shadi Airport]] has cancelled all flights and suspended operations from 12 June.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2021-06-19 |title=Shenzhen airport tightens COVID-19 measures as China logs 30 new cases |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shenzhen-airport-tightens-covid-19-measures-china-logs-30-new-cases-2021-06-19/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120094031/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shenzhen-airport-tightens-covid-19-measures-china-logs-30-new-cases-2021-06-19/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 June, [[Ruili]] was again put into lockdown after three local infections associated with the Delta variant.<ref>{{cite news |title=Third Lockdown Imposed on Southwest China Border Town After Delta Variant Appears |url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-07-06/third-lockdown-imposed-on-southwest-china-border-town-after-delta-variant-appears-101736811.html |agency=Caixin Global |date=6 July 2021 |access-date=10 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185801/https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-07-06/third-lockdown-imposed-on-southwest-china-border-town-after-delta-variant-appears-101736811.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 July, it was reported that the new outbreak has spread to 13 cities in five provinces including the capital Beijing. The cases were linked to cleaners who worked on a flight from Russia that arrived in Nanjing on 10 July 2021 who did not follow strict hygiene measures. Officials added that the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus was behind these new infections and there are worries about whether the Chinese vaccines would work against the Delta variant.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 July 2021|title=New virus outbreak worst since Wuhan, say Chinese state media|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58021911|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804022344/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58021911|archive-date=4 August 2021|access-date=5 August 2021|website=BBC News}}</ref>

On 21 July, another local cluster was identified in [[Nanjing]] after 17 airport workers have tested positive during a routine check up.<ref>{{cite news |title=17 airport workers test positive for Covid-19 in Nanjing |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/17-airport-workers-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-nanjing |agency=The Straits Times |date=21 July 2021 |access-date=21 July 2021 |archive-date=21 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721182214/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/17-airport-workers-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-nanjing |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2 August, the outbreak, caused by fast-spreading Delta variant, has reached more than 20 cities. [[Zhuzhou]], [[Zhangjiajie]] and [[Yangzhou]] were forced into lockdowns.<ref>{{cite web|title=Millions under strict lockdown in China after Covid outbreak|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/02/millions-under-strict-lockdown-china-covid-outbreak|website=The Guardian|date=2021-08-02|access-date=3 August 2021|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803215302/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/02/millions-under-strict-lockdown-china-covid-outbreak|url-status=live}}</ref> Some flights, trains and buses to Beijing have been cancelled to guard the capital against the new surge.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-02 |title=Transport into Beijing cut to 'guard' capital against Covid-19 surge |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3143485/transport-beijing-halted-bid-guard-capital-all-costs-amid-covid |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=3 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803215302/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3143485/transport-beijing-halted-bid-guard-capital-all-costs-amid-covid |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 11 September, another cluster of infections was found in Xianyou county of Putian, Fujian province.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-49-new-coronavirus-cases-sept-12-vs-46-day-ago-2021-09-13/|title=Chinese city imposes travel curbs, closes public venues in new COVID-19 outbreak|newspaper=Reuters|date=13 September 2021|access-date=13 September 2021|archive-date=13 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913204527/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-49-new-coronavirus-cases-sept-12-vs-46-day-ago-2021-09-13/|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple clusters have also emerged in Bayan county of [[Harbin]], Heilongjiang, the source of infections remains unclear.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-28 |title=Harbin residents told to stay home for the holiday amid Covid-19 outbreak |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3150458/harbin-residents-told-stay-home-holiday-amid-covid-19-outbreak |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928185617/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3150458/harbin-residents-told-stay-home-holiday-amid-covid-19-outbreak |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 October, China reported the highest number of new cases since the September outbreak in Fujian, with domestic infections reported in [[Ejin Banner]] of Inner Mongolia and in [[Lanzhou]], Gansu and new cases reported in Beijing, Ningxia, Jiangxi and Yunnan. Another outbreak by imported case was reported in the northern border town of [[Heihe]], Heilongjiang province.<ref>{{Cite news |title=China reports highest number of Covid-19 cases in over a month |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3153451/china-reports-highest-number-covid-19-cases-over-month |work=SCMP |date=23 October 2021 |access-date=1 November 2021 |archive-date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101162201/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3153451/china-reports-highest-number-covid-19-cases-over-month |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 October, the city of [[Lanzhou]] was put into lockdown after six new cases were detected.<ref>{{cite web |title=China locks down city of 4m people after six Covid cases detected |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/26/china-locks-down-city-lanzhou-gansu-covid |work=Guardian |date=26 October 2021 |access-date=1 November 2021 |archive-date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101022717/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/26/china-locks-down-city-lanzhou-gansu-covid |url-status=live }}</ref>

In early November, Dalian reported more than 80 cases of COVID-19, the first of which occurred in a warehouse worker in the Zhuanghe district of the city on 4 November. In response, on 8 November local authorities ordered all businesses handling imported chilled and frozen foods to suspend operations.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Patton|first=Dominique|date=11 November 2021|title=Chinese city Dalian halts frozen food trade after COVID-19 cases|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-city-dalian-halts-frozen-food-trade-after-covid-19-cases-2021-11-11/|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114110216/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-city-dalian-halts-frozen-food-trade-after-covid-19-cases-2021-11-11/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In mid-December, the outbreak in the cities of Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou was developing at a "relatively rapid" speed, forcing closure of flights and venues.<ref>{{Cite news |title=China faces new COVID outbreak as first Omicron case is reported |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/14/chinas-zhejiang-fights-new-covid-outbreak-amid-omicron |work=Al Jazeera |date=14 December 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021 |archive-date=23 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223073010/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/14/chinas-zhejiang-fights-new-covid-outbreak-amid-omicron |url-status=live }}</ref> The outbreak began to subside from mid December, with Hangzhou resuming low-risk status as of 21 December.<ref name="cnbc_20211222" />

On 22 December, the border city of [[Dongxing, Guangxi|Dongxing]] next to Vietnam has ordered residents to stay at home due to one COVID-19 case.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chinese city orders residents to stay at home, cuts public transport, due to one COVID-19 case |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-city-delays-clearing-travellers-cargos-port-entry-after-one-covid-19-2021-12-21/ |work=Reuters |date=22 December 2021 |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105193413/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-city-delays-clearing-travellers-cargos-port-entry-after-one-covid-19-2021-12-21/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The strict measures resulted in severe backlog of trucks at the border crossings and disrupted trade, prompting the Vietnam government to complain.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vietnam complains China's border controls to stop coronavirus spreading are 'overkill' |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3161810/vietnam-complains-chinas-border-controls-stop-coronavirus |work=SCMP |date=2 January 2022 |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105201227/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3161810/vietnam-complains-chinas-border-controls-stop-coronavirus |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 23 December 2021, the city of [[Xi'an]] with 13 million people was put into strict lockdown after local authorities reported more than 250 cases,<ref>{{cite web |title=13 million people under lockdown in Xi'an, China |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211224_16 |work=NHK |access-date=27 December 2021 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225160055/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211224_16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> traced to the [[Delta variant]] by authorities.<ref name="cnbc_20211222">{{Cite news|title=Major Chinese city locks down to control Covid outbreak|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/23/major-chinese-city-locks-down-to-control-covid-outbreak.html|first=Evelyn|last=Cheng|work=CNBC|date=22 December 2021|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104022529/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/23/major-chinese-city-locks-down-to-control-covid-outbreak.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The lockdown led to stressed healthcare and delayed or insufficient food deliveries to some parts of the city.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tales of anguish emerge from China's locked-down Xian, as hospitals demand patients be covid-free|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/05/china-covid-xian-lockdown-miscarriage/|access-date=6 January 2022|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=5 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105114103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/05/china-covid-xian-lockdown-miscarriage/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 December 155 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms were reported from Xi'an, contributing the largest part to the countrywide highest daily count since the outbreak in Wuhan, of 158 cases.<ref>{{Cite news|title=China's local COVID case count driven to 21-month high by Xian outbreak|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-local-covid-case-count-driven-21-month-high-by-xian-outbreak-2021-12-26|first1=Roxanne|last1=Liu|first2=Stella|last2=Qiu|first3=Ryan|last3=Woo|work=Reuters|date=27 December 2021|access-date=3 January 2022|archive-date=3 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103233534/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-local-covid-case-count-driven-21-month-high-by-xian-outbreak-2021-12-26/|url-status=live}}</ref> The city was placed into strict lockdown until 24 January 2022.

The city of [[Ruili]] bordering Myanmar was reported to have endured four lockdowns with 200 days in total in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruili, China's gateway to Myanmar, hit by dual hardships of coronavirus and conflict across border |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3153911/ruili-chinas-gateway-myanmar-hit-dual-hardships-coronavirus-and |work=SCMP |date=28 October 2021 |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105200740/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3153911/ruili-chinas-gateway-myanmar-hit-dual-hardships-coronavirus-and |url-status=live }}</ref>

== 2022: Outbreaks and end of lockdowns ==
On 4 January 2022, 1.1 million people in [[Yuzhou, Henan|Yuzhou]], [[Henan]] received [[stay-at-home order|stay at home]] order after three asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59871325|title=Yuzhou: Second Chinese city forced into Covid lockdown|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|date=4 January 2022|access-date=6 January 2022|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104210707/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59871325|url-status=live}}</ref> In the evening of the same day, Zhengzhou told its residents in risky areas that they could not leave the city without approval from health control authorities. The Xi'an outbreak appeared to ease, with 35 local symptomatic cases reported that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/chinas-henan-hit-by-covid-curbs-after-sporadic-cases-2022-01-05/|title=China's Henan hit by COVID curbs after sporadic cases|first1=Ryan|last1=Woo|first2=Roxanne|last2=Liu|first3=Gabriel|last3=Crossley|first4=Ella|last4=Cao|work=[[Reuters]]|date=5 January 2022|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106232229/https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/chinas-henan-hit-by-covid-curbs-after-sporadic-cases-2022-01-05/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 January, the city of [[Zhengzhou]] has upgraded measures and closed down non-essential services during a citywide mass testing campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20220111/0eb2a8a95e8b41649b94809a7fd0fe8a/c.html|title=China's Zhengzhou upgrades measures to curb COVID-19 spread|agency=Xinhua News|date=11 January 2022|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111062218/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20220111/0eb2a8a95e8b41649b94809a7fd0fe8a/c.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Anyang]] has been placed under lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-64ca91f0f2315eabea84bb4a9d0801eb |title=China locks down 3rd city, raising affected to 20 million |website=[[Associated Press]] |agency=AP News |date=11 January 2022 |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111050512/https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-64ca91f0f2315eabea84bb4a9d0801eb |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 24 January, lockdown restrictions were lifted in Xi'an while 2 million residents of [[Fengtai district]] of Beijing underwent mass testing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-coronavirus-pandemic-sports-travel-health-63e4ebc0a67c939bf020c93cd715297a |title=China tests 2M in Beijing, lifts COVID lockdown in Xi'an |work=AP News |date=24 January 2022 |access-date=1 February 2022 |archive-date=1 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201201917/https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-coronavirus-pandemic-sports-travel-health-63e4ebc0a67c939bf020c93cd715297a |url-status=live }}</ref> On 25 January, the border city of [[Suifenhe]] was placed into lockdown.<ref name="RFA">{{cite news |title=China's smaller cities also under lockdown as COVID-19 prevention drive hits Beijing |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/beijing-covid-04262022101547.html |work=Radio Free Asia |date=26 April 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505164307/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/beijing-covid-04262022101547.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 7 February, the city of [[Baise]] in Guangxi province has been placed under lockdown after 37 symptomatic cases were reported on the day before.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus/covid-19-china-locks-down-baise-city-on-vietnam-border-as-cases-rise |title=Covid-19: China locks down Baise city on Vietnam border as cases rise |work=Khaleej News |date=7 February 2022 |access-date=7 February 2022 |archive-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207032901/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus/covid-19-china-locks-down-baise-city-on-vietnam-border-as-cases-rise |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 11 March, the city of [[Changchun]] of [[Jilin Province]] was placed into lockdown after the highest single day spike in cases since the Wuhan outbreak was reported.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/world/china-imposes-lockdown-in-industrial-centre-of-changchun-amid-new-covid-19-outbreak-9-million-residents-to-stay-indoors-article-90150089 |title=China imposes lockdown in industrial centre amid new COVID-19 outbreak; 9 million residents to stay indoors |website=Times Now |date=11 March 2022 |access-date=14 March 2022 |archive-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314145039/https://www.timesnownews.com/world/china-imposes-lockdown-in-industrial-centre-of-changchun-amid-new-covid-19-outbreak-9-million-residents-to-stay-indoors-article-90150089 |url-status=live }}</ref> Food shortages related to shutdown measures were reported.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/capital-chinas-jilin-province-apologises-food-shortages-due-covid-curbs-2022-03-29 |title=Capital of China's Jilin province apologises for food shortages due to COVID curbs |website=Reuters |date=20 March 2022 |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403192245/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/capital-chinas-jilin-province-apologises-food-shortages-due-covid-curbs-2022-03-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sporadic outbreaks have been reported in [[Laixi]] and [[Huangdao District|Huangdao]] of Shandong province.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202203/08/WS6226ac77a310cdd39bc8b11c.html | title=Lessons put online amid virus surge | access-date=11 April 2022 | archive-date=11 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411172452/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202203/08/WS6226ac77a310cdd39bc8b11c.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 14 March, the city of [[Shenzhen]] was placed on lockdown, with factories halting production after new virus cases doubled nationwide to almost 3,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/news/public-health/shenzhen-shutdown-in-china-covid-surge-c-6043362|title=Shenzhen shutdown in China COVID surge|website=7NEWS|date=14 March 2022|access-date=14 March 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220313223005/https://7news.com.au/news/public-health/shenzhen-shutdown-in-china-covid-surge-c-6043362|archive-date=13 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/3/188081/China-places-17-million-residents-of-Shenzhen-under-Covid-lockdown|title=China places 17 million residents of Shenzhen under Covid lockdown|website=The Standard|date=13 March 2022|access-date=14 March 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313222818/https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/3/188081/China-places-17-million-residents-of-Shenzhen-under-Covid-lockdown|archive-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> The neighboring city of [[Hong Kong]] was also battling a severe outbreak since January.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kongs-zero-covid-success-now-worsens-strains-omicron-spike-2022-02-19|title=Analysis: Hong Kong's 'zero-COVID' success now worsens strains of Omicron spike|first=Farah|last=Master|work=[[Reuters]]|date=21 February 2022|access-date=30 March 2022|archive-date=16 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316075625/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kongs-zero-covid-success-now-worsens-strains-omicron-spike-2022-02-19/|url-status=live}}</ref> Schools and public transport were closed in Shanghai and people were forbidden to enter or exit [[Jilin]] as the entire province is closed to curb the virus spread.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/14/chinas-silicon-valley-shenzhen-orders-production-halts-control-covid.html|title=China Covid spike: Shenzhen shuts production, Shanghai closes schools|website=CNBC|date=14 March 2022|access-date=14 March 2022|archive-date=14 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314190918/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/14/chinas-silicon-valley-shenzhen-orders-production-halts-control-covid.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 15 March, the whole area of [[Langfang]] city, Hebei and the factory center of [[Dongguan]] in Guangdong were put into lockdown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://equalocean.com/briefing/20220315230128724|title=The whole area of Langfang City, Hebei Province strictly implements sealing and control management|website=EqualOcean|access-date=17 March 2022|archive-date=15 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315005631/https://equalocean.com/briefing/20220315230128724|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/15/china-covid-spike-worsens-dongguan-factory-center-locks-down.html|title=China's Covid spike worsens: Dongguan factory center locks down, new cases top 3,500 nationwide|first=Evelyn|last=Cheng|date=15 March 2022|website=CNBC|access-date=17 March 2022|archive-date=17 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317161250/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/15/china-covid-spike-worsens-dongguan-factory-center-locks-down.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The earlier shutdown of Shenzhen has forced manufacturers such as Toyota, Volkswagen and Apple's supplier [[Foxconn]] to suspend operations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/foxconn-suspends-shenzhen-operations-adjusts-production-line-minimise-impact-2022-03-14/|title=China's COVID curbs hit Toyota, Volkswagen and Apple supplier Foxconn|first1=Sarah|last1=Wu|first2=Norihiko|last2=Shirouzu|newspaper=Reuters|date=14 March 2022|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=25 April 2022|archive-date=25 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425000521/https://www.reuters.com/technology/foxconn-suspends-shenzhen-operations-adjusts-production-line-minimise-impact-2022-03-14/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Shenzhen lockdowns ended on 23 March.

On 20 March, China reported its first COVID-19 deaths since January 2021 and the first double daily toll since May 2020, with both fatalities coming from Jilin.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2022-03-20 |title=China reports first two COVID-19 deaths in more than a year |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1570909/china-reports-first-two-covid-19-deaths-in-more-than-a-year |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320203315/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1570909/china-reports-first-two-covid-19-deaths-in-more-than-a-year |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 March, lockdowns were implemented in the cities of [[Tangshan]] and [[Shenyang]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/22/china-locks-down-city-of-9-million-and-reports-4000-cases-as-omicron-tests-zero-covid-strategy|title=China locks down city of 9 million and reports 4,000 cases as Omicron tests zero-Covid strategy|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=22 March 2022|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 March 2022|archive-date=23 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323175156/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/22/china-locks-down-city-of-9-million-and-reports-4000-cases-as-omicron-tests-zero-covid-strategy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-steelmaking-hub-tangshan-enters-lockdown-covid-cases-rise-2022-03-23/|title=Chinese steelmaking hub Tangshan enters lockdown as COVID cases rise|newspaper=Reuters|date=23 March 2022|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=25 April 2022|archive-date=25 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425000521/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-steelmaking-hub-tangshan-enters-lockdown-covid-cases-rise-2022-03-23/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 28 March, the Shanghai city government announced the largest city-wide lockdown in China since the outbreak began in which [[COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai|Shanghai]] will be locked down in two stages. The city of Shanghai became [[2022 Shanghai COVID-19 outbreak|the country's COVID-19 epicenter]] after a surge in cases.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-27 |title=Shanghai Covid: China announces largest city-wide lockdown |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60893070 |access-date=2023-01-20 |archive-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220327184354/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60893070 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shanghai's lockdowns has hit operations at the [[Port of Shanghai|city's ports]], causing disruptions on the logistical chain to the manufacturing hubs nearby.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3172932/shanghai-port-operations-hit-citys-covid-19-outbreak |title=Shanghai Port operations hit by city's Covid-19 outbreak |website=SCMP |date=3 April 2022 |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403193148/https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3172932/shanghai-port-operations-hit-citys-covid-19-outbreak |url-status=live }}</ref> There were reports of [[panic buying]] to stock up supplies in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3172277/coronavirus-china-expats-shanghai-stunned-lockdown-sends |title=Coronavirus China: expats in Shanghai 'stunned' as lockdown sends 'floods' of people scrambling for supplies |last=Castagnone |first=Mia |website=SCMP |date=30 March 2022 |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403193145/https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3172277/coronavirus-china-expats-shanghai-stunned-lockdown-sends |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 30 March, the city of [[Xuzhou]] in Jiangsu has imposed a three-days lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-expands-lockdown-more-areas-new-local-cases-hit-5982-2022-03-30 |title=Shanghai expands COVID lockdown as new daily cases surge by a third |website=Reuters |date=30 March 2022 |access-date=30 March 2022 |archive-date=30 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330220328/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-expands-lockdown-more-areas-new-local-cases-hit-5982-2022-03-30/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 3 April, China reported 13,146 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which was the highest single-day total of new cases since the height of the pandemic in [[Wuhan]] in February 2020.<ref name="France24 China reports">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220403-china-reports-13-000-covid-cases-most-since-end-of-wuhan-s-first-wave|website=France 24|title=China reports 13,000 Covid cases, most since end of Wuhan's first wave|date=4 March 2022|access-date=5 April 2022|archive-date=3 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403042619/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220403-china-reports-13-000-covid-cases-most-since-end-of-wuhan-s-first-wave|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 4 April, officials in [[Suzhou]] announced a new mutation of the Omicron variant was detected in [[Changshu]]. The city of [[Baicheng]] in Inner Mongolia was put into lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/04/04/2003775974 |title=China posts most cases since end of first Wuhan wave |website=TaipeiTimes |date=4 April 2022 |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403193635/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/04/04/2003775974 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== March–May 2022 Shanghai outbreak ===
{{Further|COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai March 2022}}
By 9 April, it is estimated that 23 Chinese cities, home to an estimated 193 million people and contribute 22% of China's GDP, have been implementing either full or partial lockdowns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai widens COVID testing as other Chinese cities impose curbs |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-widens-covid-testing-other-chinese-cities-impose-curbs-2022-04-08 |website=Reuters |date=9 April 2022 |access-date=9 April 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409170242/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-widens-covid-testing-other-chinese-cities-impose-curbs-2022-04-08/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In Shanghai, residents have reported food shortages due to lockdown measures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Many Shanghai residents say Covid lockdown measures have caused food shortages. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/world/asia/food-shortages-shanghai-covid.html |website=NYT |date=8 April 2022 |access-date=9 April 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409202252/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/world/asia/food-shortages-shanghai-covid.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The city's health system has shown signs of strain as patients were turned away from hospitals as wards were closed and medical staff have been deployed to quarantine hospitals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Medical emergencies mount as Shanghai's lockdown tightens |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/01/china-shanghai-medical-emergencies-coronavirus-lockdown |website=WP |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=9 April 2022 |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402175322/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/01/china-shanghai-medical-emergencies-coronavirus-lockdown/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai tells city hospitals to reopen emergency wards after Covid-19 lockdowns see patients turned away |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3172873/shanghai-tells-city-hospitals-reopen-emergency-wards-after |website=SCMP |date=2 April 2022 |access-date=9 April 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409202250/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3172873/shanghai-tells-city-hospitals-reopen-emergency-wards-after |url-status=live }}</ref> A series of deaths were reported at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care hospital, which their relatives blame on lack of care due to hospital staff being taken away for quarantine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai hospital pays the price for China's COVID response |url=https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-beijing-china-media-21525cacbd3a5d97f299363d63558ed2 |website=AP News |date=10 April 2022 |access-date=9 April 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409202250/https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-beijing-china-media-21525cacbd3a5d97f299363d63558ed2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Videos have emerged on social media showing Shanghai residents engaging in protests and clashes with police over quarantine policies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai residents forced from homes clash with police over Covid policy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/15/shanghai-residents-forced-from-homes-clash-with-police-over-covid-policy |website=Guardian |date=15 April 2022 |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416220416/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/15/shanghai-residents-forced-from-homes-clash-with-police-over-covid-policy |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai residents and police clash after homes seized for Covid quarantine |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6813e7d6-5ac5-4a06-bd13-4592dc8e936e |website=FT.com |date=15 April 2022 |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416220332/https://www.ft.com/content/6813e7d6-5ac5-4a06-bd13-4592dc8e936e |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Increasing of rolling lockdown measures ===
On 11 April, authorities in [[Guangzhou]] closed the city to most arrivals and only allowed citizens with a "definite need" to leave.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guangzhou closes to most arrivals as China's outbreak grows |url=https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-guangzhou-beijing-e4c1df45c9906cd6818ddeee4d855b3e |website=AP News |date=11 April 2022 |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416145226/https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-guangzhou-beijing-e4c1df45c9906cd6818ddeee4d855b3e |url-status=live }}</ref> Lockdown measures continue to spread to other cities in China as restrictions on movement were reported in Suzhou, Zhengzhou, [[Taiyuan]] and [[Ningde]].<ref>{{cite web |title=As COVID-19 Infections Rise, Lockdowns Are Spreading in China Along With Public Irritation |url=https://time.com/6167374/covid-china-lockdowns |website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=15 April 2022 |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416214952/https://time.com/6167374/covid-china-lockdowns/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=More Chinese cities tighten controls as Shanghai COVID cases rise |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-reports-more-symptomatic-covid-cases-more-lockdowns-imposed-2022-04-16 |website=Reuters |date=16 April 2022 |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416214952/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-reports-more-symptomatic-covid-cases-more-lockdowns-imposed-2022-04-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 16 April, a temporary partial lockdown was again imposed in Xi'an after dozens of infections were reported.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's Xi'an enacts COVID curbs on movement, business |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/China-s-Xi-an-enacts-COVID-curbs-on-movement-business |website=Nikkei |date=16 April 2022 |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=17 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417030425/https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/China-s-Xi-an-enacts-COVID-curbs-on-movement-business |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 19 April, Tangshan re-enforced partial lockdowns in some of its districts.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's Top Steeltown Returns to Partial Lockdown, Mass Testing |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-19/china-s-top-steeltown-returns-to-partial-lockdown-mass-testing |website=Bloomberg |date=19 April 2022 |access-date=20 April 2022 |archive-date=20 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420201027/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-19/china-s-top-steeltown-returns-to-partial-lockdown-mass-testing |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 April, [[Baotou]] in Inner Mongolia announced it will lock down for a week<ref>{{cite web |title=China Locks Down Northern Hub for Coal and Rare Earths Output |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-26/china-locks-down-northern-hub-for-coal-and-rare-earths-output |website=Bloomberg |date=26 April 2022 |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426154821/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-26/china-locks-down-northern-hub-for-coal-and-rare-earths-output |url-status=live }}</ref> while Beijing begins mass testing of nearly all of its 21 million residents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beijing begins mass Covid testing of nearly all 21 million residents |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20220426-beijing-begins-mass-covid-testing-of-nearly-all-21-million-residents |website=France24 |date=26 April 2022 |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426154822/https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20220426-beijing-begins-mass-covid-testing-of-nearly-all-21-million-residents |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 April, [[Hangzhou]] started mass testing while the wholesale hub of [[Yiwu]] and the port city of [[Qinhuangdao]] were put into lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |title=China Locks Down Wholesale Hub For Christmas Trees, Trump Merch |url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/china-locks-down-christmas-town-yiwu-in-blow-to-supply-chains |website=Bloomberg Quint |date=27 April 2022 |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308040448/https://www.ndtvprofit.com/onweb/china-locks-down-christmas-town-yiwu-in-blow-to-supply-chains |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=China Locks Down Part of Its Northern Hub for Coal Shipping |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-28/china-locks-down-part-of-its-northern-hub-for-coal-shipping |date=28 April 2022 |access-date=29 April 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429203641/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-28/china-locks-down-part-of-its-northern-hub-for-coal-shipping |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 30 April, China recorded 47 deaths from Covid within 24 hours, bringing the total toll above 5,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=China reports 1,410 new local Covid-19 cases, 47 deaths in last 24 hours |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/china-reports-1-410-new-local-covid-19-cases-47-deaths-in-last-24-hours-122043000134_1.html |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505164316/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/china-reports-1-410-new-local-covid-19-cases-47-deaths-in-last-24-hours-122043000134_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A Caixin media report cited that [[Handan]], [[Lu'an]], [[Quanzhou]], [[Suqian]], [[Wuhu]], [[Xining]], Xuzhou along with many cities in Jilin, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu and [[COVID-19 pandemic in Shaanxi|Shaanxi]] was locked down in April, with more than 30 million people affected.<ref name="RFA"/><ref>{{cite news |title=财新网统计 中国至少22地方"封城" |url=https://news.seehua.com/?p=824706 |newspaper=马来西亚诗华日报新闻网 |date=18 April 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005210002/https://news.seehua.com/?p=824706 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The province of Jilin began to gradually lift COVID-19 control measures from the end of April. It reported a GDP shrinkage of 7.9% during the first quarter of 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roiled by COVID-19, China's rust-belt province Jilin suffers rare GDP slump |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/roiled-covid-19-chinas-rust-belt-province-jilin-suffers-rare-gdp-slump-2653331 |work=CNA |date=28 April 2022 |access-date=25 May 2022 |archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525160654/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/roiled-covid-19-chinas-rust-belt-province-jilin-suffers-rare-gdp-slump-2653331 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 3 May, the city of Zhengzhou imposed new movement restrictions, which halts all activities and only allows each household to one person with a negative test result to go out once a day to purchase basic supplies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Central Chinese city of Zhengzhou imposes new COVID movement curbs for May 4–10 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/central-chinese-city-zhengzhou-imposes-new-covid-movement-curbs-may-4-10-2022-05-03 |website=Reuters |date=3 May 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505112414/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/central-chinese-city-zhengzhou-imposes-new-covid-movement-curbs-may-4-10-2022-05-03/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 May, Beijing authorities announced that parts of [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang]], [[Fangshan District|Fangshan]] and [[Shunyi]] districts would be subject to tighter curbs.<ref>{{cite news |title=In Beijing, Covid transport curbs are making it hard to get to hospital |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3177547/beijing-covid-transport-curbs-are-making-it-hard-get-hospital |website=SCMP |date=13 May 2022 |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521012323/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3177547/beijing-covid-transport-curbs-are-making-it-hard-get-hospital |url-status=live }}</ref> On 22 May, lockdowns have been imposed on those three districts along with [[Haidian District|Haidian]] and [[Fengtai District|Fengtai]].<ref>{{cite news |title=China imposes lockdown in parts of Beijing as COVID-19 outbreak continues |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/china-imposes-lockdown-in-parts-of-beijing-as-covid-19-outbreak-continues20220522111549 |website=Ani News |date=13 May 2022 |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522055621/https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/china-imposes-lockdown-in-parts-of-beijing-as-covid-19-outbreak-continues20220522111549/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 24 May, the city of [[Tianjin]] [[COVID-19 pandemic in Tianjin|locked down its central district]], causing delays and blank sailings at its ports.<ref>{{cite web |title=Covid slows China port volume growth, as Tianjin enters new lockdown |url=https://theloadstar.com/covid-slows-china-port-volume-growth-as-tianjin-goes-into-new-lockdown |website=The Loadstar |date=24 May 2022 |access-date=25 May 2022 |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524103446/https://theloadstar.com/covid-slows-china-port-volume-growth-as-tianjin-goes-into-new-lockdown/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 31 May, Shanghai began to start lifting its strict lockdown measures, allowing people to return to work and malls and shops to re-open in "low-risk" areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai says all residents in 'low-risk' areas can return to work on June 1 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-says-all-residents-low-risk-areas-can-return-work-june-1-2022-05-31 |website=SMCP |date=31 May 2022 |access-date=31 May 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531061016/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-says-all-residents-low-risk-areas-can-return-work-june-1-2022-05-31/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In some neighborhoods and districts, residents were ordered to stay home until mid-June after completion of rounds of rigorous testing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-shanghai-covid-lockdown-beijing-shuts-districts-rcna32696 |title=Parts of Shanghai return to Covid lockdown as Beijing district shuts entertainment venues |website=NBC News |date=9 June 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711175302/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-shanghai-covid-lockdown-beijing-shuts-districts-rcna32696 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 June, Beijing authorities further relaxed curbs by allowing indoor dining while the city of [[Erenhot]] and the [[Sonid Right Banner]] of Xilin Gol, Inner Mongolia have imposed lockdowns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Covid outbreak shuts down Chinese city as Beijing and Shanghai return to new normal |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3180610/covid-outbreak-shuts-down-chinese-city-beijing-and-shanghai |website=SCMP |date=6 June 2022 |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606154714/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3180610/covid-outbreak-shuts-down-chinese-city-beijing-and-shanghai |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=内蒙古苏尼特右旗发现1例初筛阳性人员 全旗进入静默状态 |url=https://www.163.com/news/article/H91ECH8M00019SNS.html |website=163.com |date=6 June 2022 |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615025630/https://www.163.com/news/article/H91ECH8M00019SNS.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 June, an outbreak linked to a nightclub forced Beijing authorities to shut down the Workers' Stadium and Sanlitun leisure and nightlife districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104534655/a-covid-19-cluster-at-a-beijing-nightclub-sets-off-a-new-clampdown |title=A COVID-19 cluster at a Beijing nightclub sets off a new clampdown |website=NPR |date=6 June 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711175302/https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104534655/a-covid-19-cluster-at-a-beijing-nightclub-sets-off-a-new-clampdown |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the flare up, Beijing declared an "initial victory" over COVID-19 on 16 June and allowed schools to resume in-class teaching on 27 June.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beijing Reopens Schools for More Students as Covid Cases Ease |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-25/beijing-reopens-schools-for-more-students-as-covid-cases-ease |website=Bloomber |date=25 June 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308030546/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-25/beijing-reopens-schools-for-more-students-as-covid-cases-ease |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 29 June, the county of [[Si County|Sixian]] of Anhui was put into lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.cn/local/2022-07/05/c_1128806522.htm |title=新华全媒+｜安徽泗县、灵璧抗疫一线探访 |website=news.cn |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706161612/http://www.news.cn/local/2022-07/05/c_1128806522.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 July, Anhui put a second county, [[Lingbi]], under lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-02/china-s-anhui-locks-down-second-county-amid-covid-flareup |title=China's Anhui Locks Down Second County Amid Covid Flareup |website=Bloomberg News |date=2 July 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925025452/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-02/china-s-anhui-locks-down-second-county-amid-covid-flareup |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 July, Shanghai reported the most virus infections since late May, with sporadic cases also propped up in Xuzhou and Wuxi.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai Cases Double in a Day, Fueling Lockdown Fears |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-07/shanghai-cases-jump-to-highest-since-may-fueling-lockdown-fears |website=Bloomberg News |date=7 July 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707105741/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-07/shanghai-cases-jump-to-highest-since-may-fueling-lockdown-fears |url-status=live }}</ref> On 9 July, the city of [[Haikou]] on Hainan Island imposed seven-day restrictions that shut down businesses and public venues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shanghai Names More High-Risk Areas, Hainan Capital Adds Curbs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-09/shanghai-virus-cases-rise-as-city-names-more-high-risk-areas |website=Bloomberg News |date=9 July 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308030510/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-09/shanghai-virus-cases-rise-as-city-names-more-high-risk-areas |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 July, [[Qinyang]] in Henan province almost completely locked down its residents while Xi'an and Lanzhou moved to tighter curbs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Macau closes casinos for first time in two years over COVID |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/11/macau-closes-casinos-for-first-time-in-two-years-over-covid |website=Al Jazeera |date=11 July 2022 |access-date=12 July 2022 |archive-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712171320/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/11/macau-closes-casinos-for-first-time-in-two-years-over-covid |url-status=live }}</ref> On 12 July, [[Wugang, Henan|Wugang]], [[Zhumadian]] and [[Pingdingshan]] in Henan implemented a three days implementation of strict closed control.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220712-china-locks-down-city-of-300-000-over-single-covid-case |title=China locks down city of 300,000 over single Covid case |website=France24 |date=12 July 2022 |access-date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714184006/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220712-china-locks-down-city-of-300-000-over-single-covid-case |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 July, [[Huaiyuan County|Huaiyuan]] of Anhui and Lanzhou of Gansu were reported to have shifted into full lockdown. On 14 July, China reported an increase in cases tally as a new cluster emerged around [[Beihai]], Guangxi.<ref>{{cite web |title=China Sees Most Covid Cases Since May as Lockdowns Spread |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-15/china-sees-most-covid-cases-since-may-as-lockdowns-spread |website=Bloomberg |date=15 July 2022 |access-date=16 July 2022 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812032052/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-15/china-sees-most-covid-cases-since-may-as-lockdowns-spread |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 July, lockdown was imposed in Beihai and the tourist island of [[Weizhou Island|Weizhou]], trapping more than 2,000 holidaymakers.<ref>{{cite web |title=China reports 699 new virus cases as outbreaks spread beyond major cities |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/07/20/2003782075 |website=Taipei Times |date=20 July 2022 |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-date=28 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728094447/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/07/20/2003782075 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dandong]]'s mayor has apologised for an over 50-day lockdown that the North Korea-bordering city had to endure.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-15/china-city-mayor-apologises-over-covid-lockdown-response-dandong/101153832 | title=Mayor of Chinese city apologises over 50-day lockdown in rare criticism of CCP's contentious zero-COVID policy | newspaper=ABC News | date=15 June 2022 | access-date=3 November 2022 | archive-date=3 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103194128/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-15/china-city-mayor-apologises-over-covid-lockdown-response-dandong/101153832 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 27 July, authorities in Wuhan shut down [[Jiangxia District]] of almost a million people after detecting four asymptomatic cases.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's Wuhan shuts down district of 1 million people over 4 asymptomatic Covid cases |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/27/china/china-covid-wuhan-shutdown-district-intl-hnk/index.html |website=CNN |date=27 July 2022 |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-date=28 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728095002/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/27/china/china-covid-wuhan-shutdown-district-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout July, Shenzhen's biggest manufacturers including [[Foxconn]], [[Huawei]] and [[BYD Company|BYD]] were forced to operate within a "closed loop" restricted system as the manufacturing hub was battling its latest Covid outbreak.<ref>{{cite web |title=China Seals Off IPhone Maker, CNOOC in Shenzhen to Battle Covid |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-25/china-seals-off-iphone-maker-cnooc-in-shenzhen-to-battle-covid |website=Bloomberg News |date=25 July 2022 |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=25 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725111626/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-25/china-seals-off-iphone-maker-cnooc-in-shenzhen-to-battle-covid |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 3 August, the export hub of [[Yiwu]] in Zhejiang suspended public gatherings and locked down some areas to cope with COVID-19 flare ups.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eastern Chinese export hub Yiwu imposes COVID restrictions |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/eastern-chinese-export-hub-yiwu-imposes-covid-restrictions-locks-down-some-areas-2022-08-03 |website=Reuters |date=3 August 2022 |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809165208/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/eastern-chinese-export-hub-yiwu-imposes-covid-restrictions-locks-down-some-areas-2022-08-03/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 August, authorities in the resort city of [[Sanya]] of Hainan announced movement restrictions after hundreds of cases were reported, leaving around 80,000 tourists stranded. Danzhou, Qionghai and other cities on the island also enforced lockdown measures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Covid lockdown strands 80,000 tourists in 'China's Hawaii' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/06/china/sanya-covid-19-outbreak-stranded-tourists-intl-hnk/index.html |website=Reuters |date=8 August 2022 |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809214726/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/06/china/sanya-covid-19-outbreak-stranded-tourists-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 August, [[Lhasa]], the regional capital of [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]] recorded one symptomatic patient and seventeen asymptomatic cases while [[Shigatse]], Tibet's second biggest city imposed three days of curbs. The region reported only one infection in 2020, and had remained clear of cases since then.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's Tibet region faces rare COVID flareup, fresh curbs imposed |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/lhasa-city-detects-18-individuals-tested-positive-covid-19-preliminary-screening-2022-08-08 |website=Reuters |date=8 August 2022 |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809194857/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/lhasa-city-detects-18-individuals-tested-positive-covid-19-preliminary-screening-2022-08-08/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 August, Ürümqi in Xinjiang started a five-day lockdown of its key districts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Several cities in China add COVID curbs as millions still under lockdown |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/several-cities-china-adds-covid-curbs-millions-still-under-lockdown-2022-08-11 |website=Reuters |date=11 August 2022 |access-date=11 August 2022 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811213316/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/several-cities-china-adds-covid-curbs-millions-still-under-lockdown-2022-08-11/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other cities in Xinjiang including [[Yining]], [[Korla]], [[Aksu, Xinjiang|Aksu]] and [[Turpan]] were also hit by circuit breaking mechanism.

On 21 August, [[Taigu District|Taigu]] and [[Pingyao]] of Shanxi and [[Nanchong]] of Sichuan went into lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |title=China Covid Cases Jump By 2,200 on Tourist-Spot Flare Ups |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-21/china-adds-almost-2-200-new-covid-cases-tourist-spots-worst-hit |website=Bloomberg |date=21 August 2022 |access-date=28 August 2022 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821050435/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-21/china-adds-almost-2-200-new-covid-cases-tourist-spots-worst-hit |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 August, Hebei authorities issued a stay-at-home order for residents of [[Xianghe]], [[Zhuozhou]] and all urban districts of [[Shijiazhuang]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese Province Bordering Beijing Expands Covid Lockdown |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-28/chinese-province-bordering-beijing-expands-covid-lockdown |website=Bloomberg |date=28 August 2022 |access-date=28 August 2022 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308030813/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-28/chinese-province-bordering-beijing-expands-covid-lockdown |url-status=live }}</ref> On 31 August, [[Daqing]] in Heilongjiang was put into lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202209/01/WS63107098a310fd2b29e7578e.html |title=Heilongjiang wrestles with COVID outbreak |website=China Daily |date=1 September 2022 |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=27 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127165151/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202209/01/WS63107098a310fd2b29e7578e.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 1 September, [[Chengdu]] announced a lockdown of its 21.2 million residents, the most populous city to be locked down since Shanghai earlier in 2022. Other major cities including Shenzhen and Dalian also stepped up COVID restrictions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chengdu locks down 21.2 million as Chinese cities battle COVID |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-chengdu-conduct-mass-covid-testing-lockdowns-cases-climb-2022-09-01 |website=Reuters |date=1 September 2022 |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905055426/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-chengdu-conduct-mass-covid-testing-lockdowns-cases-climb-2022-09-01/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 September, [[Guiyang]] sealed off six of its districts to contain Covid outbreak.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's Lockdown Hits City of 6 Million; Chengdu Still Shut |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-05/china-s-guiyang-locks-down-some-areas-to-contain-covid-outbreak |website=Bloomberg |date=5 September 2022 |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205223710/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-05/china-s-guiyang-locks-down-some-areas-to-contain-covid-outbreak |url-status=live }}</ref> On 15 September, lockdowns were mostly lifted in Chengdu, save for six districts.<ref>{{cite news |title=China's Chengdu exits full citywide COVID lockdown on Thursday |newspaper=Reuters |date=15 September 2022 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-chengdu-lift-citywide-covid-lockdown-thursday-2022-09-14 |access-date=16 September 2022 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922061115/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-chengdu-lift-citywide-covid-lockdown-thursday-2022-09-14/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 September, a bus carrying 47 people from Guiyang being taken to quarantine in [[Libo County]] [[2022 Guizhou bus crash|crashed]] in [[Sandu Shui Autonomous County|Sandu County]] of [[Guizhou]] province, killing 27 on board. The accident set off  a storm of anger online over the harshness of strict COVID policies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-covid-quarantine-bus-crash-deaths-outcry-zero-covid-policy |title=China quarantine bus crashes, killing dozens and prompting fresh outcry over draconian "zero COVID" policy |newspaper=CBS |date=20 September 2022 |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=20 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220040453/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-covid-quarantine-bus-crash-deaths-outcry-zero-covid-policy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 5 October, [[Xishuangbanna]] of Yunnan province went into full lockdown, leaving travellers stranded at its airport. On the same day, residents were banned from leaving Xinjiang over an outbreak, weeks after the region had been relaxing restrictions following a stringent lockdown.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/10/05/angry-tourists-confront-armed-guards-chinese-airport-placed | title=Angry tourists confront armed guards as Chinese airport placed in Covid lockdown | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=5 October 2022 | last1=Pan | first1=Jenny | last2=Bowman | first2=Verity | access-date=12 October 2022 | archive-date=12 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012084945/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/10/05/angry-tourists-confront-armed-guards-chinese-airport-placed/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 17 October, Zhengzhou locked down its district [[Zhongyuan District|Zhongyuan]] to tame a virus flareup.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-17/china-locks-down-area-of-nearly-1-million-near-iphone-factory | title=China Locks Down Almost 1 Million People Near iPhone Factory | newspaper=Bloomberg.com | date=17 October 2022 | access-date=18 October 2022 | archive-date=18 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018162956/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-17/china-locks-down-area-of-nearly-1-million-near-iphone-factory | url-status=live }}</ref> On 18 October, a 14-year-old girl died after falling ill in a quaratine center in [[Ruzhou]] after being denied prompt medical care, according to her family's account. The case has sparked anger online, forcing censors to remove hashtags for "Ruzhou Girl" online.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-teen-girl-death-covid-quarantine-ruzhou-internet-videos-censored |title=Angry tourists confront armed guards as Chinese airport placed in Covid lockdown |newspaper=CBS |date=21 October 2022 |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207051144/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-teen-girl-death-covid-quarantine-ruzhou-internet-videos-censored/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 October, hundreds of migrant workers in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa took to the streets to protest harsh lockdown measures, which had been lasting for 74 days.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/29/hundreds-in-tibetan-capital-stage-rare-protest-against-covid-lockdowns | title=Hundreds in Tibetan capital stage rare protest against Covid lockdowns | date=29 October 2022 }}</ref>

In late October, dozens of cities across China have again ramped up their lockdowns, including districts of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Datong and Xining, affecting more than 200 million people.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3197416/cities-across-china-double-down-covid-19-controls | title=Cities across China double down on Covid-19 controls | date=27 October 2022 | access-date=1 November 2022 | archive-date=1 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101071351/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3197416/cities-across-china-double-down-covid-19-controls | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63410341 | title=China Covid: Millions back in lockdown as Beijing doubles down on zero-Covid | work=BBC News | date=28 October 2022 | access-date=1 November 2022 | archive-date=1 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101090724/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63410341 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/10/31/china-locks-down-millions-as-cases-rise-ahead-of-winter | title=China locks down millions as COVID cases rise before winter | access-date=1 November 2022 | archive-date=1 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101071351/https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/10/31/china-locks-down-millions-as-cases-rise-ahead-of-winter | url-status=live }}</ref> In Heilongjiang province, [[Suihua]] and [[Mudanjiang]] were also experiencing outbreaks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/china-covid-curbs-hit-iphone-output-shut-shanghai-disney |title=China COVID curbs hit iPhone output, shut Shanghai Disney &#124; Nasdaq |access-date=4 November 2022 |archive-date=4 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104202842/https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/china-covid-curbs-hit-iphone-output-shut-shanghai-disney |url-status=live }}</ref> In Zhengzhou, workers at the [[Foxconn]] factory have turned to social media for help and to voice their anger about inadequate food and lack of medical care amid strict control measures implemented on the campus. The complex employs more than 200,000 workers, thousands of them chose to escape the campus en masse, trekking across fields to return to their home.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3197502/fear-and-anger-inside-worlds-largest-iphone-factory-foxconn-workers-vent-about-covid-19-restrictions | title=Anger inside the world's largest iPhone factory as Covid-19 spreads | date=27 October 2022 | access-date=1 November 2022 | archive-date=1 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101071335/https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3197502/fear-and-anger-inside-worlds-largest-iphone-factory-foxconn-workers-vent-about-covid-19-restrictions | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/30/china-braces-for-wave-of-workers-fleeing-iphone-factory-in-covid-hit-zhengzhou | title=China braces for wave of workers fleeing iPhone factory in Covid-hit Zhengzhou | website=[[TheGuardian.com]] | date=30 October 2022 | access-date=1 November 2022 | archive-date=1 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101071335/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/30/china-braces-for-wave-of-workers-fleeing-iphone-factory-in-covid-hit-zhengzhou | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 2 November, the death of a 3-year-old boy to a gas leak in [[Lanzhou]], reportedly after delay in receiving treatment due to movement restriction has triggered a wave of public anger. Videos on social media show residents taking to the streets demanding answer from authorities and buses containing SWAT teams arriving at the scene.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/03/china/china-covid-lanzhou-child-death-outrage-intl-hnk/index.html | title=Death of boy in lockdown fuels backlash against China's zero-Covid policy | date=3 November 2022 | access-date=3 November 2022 | archive-date=6 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206022319/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/03/china/china-covid-lanzhou-child-death-outrage-intl-hnk/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Local authorities issued apologised the next day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-authorities-apologise-boy-dies-covid-19-lockdown-lanzhou-3041036 |title=China authorities apologise after boy dies in COVID-19 lockdown - CNA |access-date=4 November 2022 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103110322/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-authorities-apologise-boy-dies-covid-19-lockdown-lanzhou-3041036 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 9 November, movement restriction measures were placed in the urban districts of [[Chongqing]]. It was reported that the city has been struggling to contain spread of virus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chongqing struggles to contain spread of virus |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202211/14/WS63721039a3104917543299ec.html |website=China Daily |date=14 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114111041/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202211/14/WS63721039a3104917543299ec.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Protests and end of zero-COVID measures ===
{{Main article|2022 COVID-19 protests in China}} 
In [[Guangzhou]], a surge in cases has spurred blanket lockdowns in the city. On 5 November, [[Haizhu District]] was locked down and transport systems were suspended. On 9 November, the city reported more than 3,000 cases and locked down its central district of Liwan.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's manufacturing hub Guangzhou locks down millions as Covid outbreak widens |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/09/china/china-covid-guangzhou-lockdown-intl-hnk/index.html |website=CNN |date=9 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115172027/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/09/china/china-covid-guangzhou-lockdown-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 November, it has been reported that residents in several districts have taken to the streets to protest against restriction policies. Videos posted online showed crowds crashing through lockdown barriers and marching down streets.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's COVID frustrations spark unrest in Guangzhou as cases rise |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-17909-new-covid-cases-nov-14-vs-16203-day-earlier-2022-11-15 |website=Reuters |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115175906/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-17909-new-covid-cases-nov-14-vs-16203-day-earlier-2022-11-15/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 November 2022 |title=Chaotic scenes in southern Chinese city as Covid curbs fuel unrest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/15/covid-curbs-fuel-unrest-in-southern-chinese-city-video-shows |website=Guardian |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115172736/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/15/covid-curbs-fuel-unrest-in-southern-chinese-city-video-shows |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 21 November, Beijing authorities shut most non-essential business and issued stay home order in the city's largest district of [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang]].<ref>{{cite web |title=China lockdowns reach record level as coronavirus cases soar |url=https://www.ft.com/content/f724e3ad-8cae-4f00-8ad2-aa8a5c035fe9 |website=Financial Times |date=22 November 2022 |access-date=24 November 2022 |archive-date=24 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124103006/https://www.ft.com/content/f724e3ad-8cae-4f00-8ad2-aa8a5c035fe9 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city reported three COVID-related deaths on the weekends before, the first deaths in mainland China since the Shanghai outbreak in May.<ref>{{cite web |title=China reports first Covid deaths since May lockdown in Shanghai |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/21/mainland-china-reports-first-covid-related-deaths-since-shanghai-lockdown.html |website=CNBC.com |date=20 November 2022 |access-date=24 November 2022 |archive-date=24 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124103539/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/21/mainland-china-reports-first-covid-related-deaths-since-shanghai-lockdown.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 November, China reported 31,444 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the highest daily figure since the virus was first detected in 2019 and surpassing figures during the Shanghai outbreak between March and May. The government responded by tightening restrictions in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Government of [[Changchun]] urged the public to halt non-essential movement and avoid going outside.<ref>{{cite web |title=China imposes new lockdowns as local Covid cases hit record high |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/24/china-imposes-new-lockdowns-as-local-covid-cases-hit-record-high |website=Guardian |date=24 November 2022 |access-date=2 December 2022 |archive-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202193032/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/24/china-imposes-new-lockdowns-as-local-covid-cases-hit-record-high |url-status=live }}</ref> In Zhengzhou, protests erupted at the Foxconn iPhone manufacturing factory campus over poor pay and restriction conditions, after authorities attempted to lock down the facility following an outbreak.<ref>{{cite web |title=Workers at the world's largest iPhone factory in China clash with police, videos show |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/23/tech/china-covid-foxconn-zhengzhou-confrontation-intl-hnk/index.html |website=CNN |date=23 November 2022 |access-date=2 December 2022 |archive-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202184312/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/23/tech/china-covid-foxconn-zhengzhou-confrontation-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 24 November, [[2022 Ürümqi fire|a building fire]] in under-lockdown [[Ürümqi]] killed ten people and wounded nine.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kang |first=Dake |date=26 November 2022 |title=10 killed in apartment fire in northwest China's Xinjiang |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/10-killed-in-apartment-fire-in-northwest-chinas-xinjiang/2022/11/24/d0bc6334-6c61-11ed-8619-0b92f0565592_story.html |access-date=26 November 2022 |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125021849/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/10-killed-in-apartment-fire-in-northwest-chinas-xinjiang/2022/11/24/d0bc6334-6c61-11ed-8619-0b92f0565592_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This sparked [[2022 COVID-19 protests in China|widespread protests]] against lockdowns and COVID-19 policies across major Chinese cities, prompting the Chinese government to signal plans to ease restrictions. On 30 November, vice premier [[Sun Chunlan]] announced that pandemic controls are entering a "new stage and mission", adding that the Omicron variant is less virulent and that rectification of control methods are underway. Sun said local governments should "respond to and resolve the reasonable demands of the masses".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Wayne |last2=Xu |first2=Xiaofei |title=China entering 'new stage and mission' for Covid-19 controls, says official, following protests |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/china/china-zero-covid-new-stage-guangzhou-intl/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |language=en |date=30 November 2022 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519214226/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/china/china-zero-covid-new-stage-guangzhou-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 7 December, the [[National Health Commission]] announced a nationwide loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, in which PCR testing would be reduced and lockdowns would also be limited.<ref>{{cite news |title=China announces nationwide loosening of COVID-19 restrictions |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-covid-19-rules-eased-nationwide-home-quarantine-pcr-testing-3127846 |website=CNA |language=en |date=7 November 2022 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208002220/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-covid-19-rules-eased-nationwide-home-quarantine-pcr-testing-3127846 |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the changes, the health pass application will no longer be required for entry to most public spaces and patients with mild symptoms may quarantine at home rather than in the facilities.<ref>{{cite news |title=China is dismantling its zero-covid machine |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2022/12/06/china-is-dismantling-its-zero-covid-machine |website=Economist |language=en |date=6 November 2022 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208002220/https://www.economist.com/china/2022/12/06/china-is-dismantling-its-zero-covid-machine |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 January 2023, the Chinese government removed some immigration restrictions and started issuing more passports to Chinese citizens and more visas to foreign nationals after almost three years of significant restrictions due to anti-pandemic control measures.<ref>{{cite news |title=China has reopened its borders to tourists after three years of COVID-19 closure |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/08/1147734190/china-has-reopened-its-borders-to-tourists-after-three-years-of-covid-closure |publisher=NPR |date=8 January 2023 |access-date=10 January 2023 |archive-date=10 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110170652/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/08/1147734190/china-has-reopened-its-borders-to-tourists-after-three-years-of-covid-closure |url-status=live }}</ref> The Hong Kong government also announced it would start to reopen its border with mainland China, allowing people to travel without quarantine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hong Kong to start reopening border with China on Sunday |url=https://apnews.com/article/health-hong-kong-china-business-92256ba215e8163100ea8e7c892684cf |publisher=AP News |date=5 January 2023 |access-date=8 January 2023 |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108164422/https://apnews.com/article/health-hong-kong-china-business-92256ba215e8163100ea8e7c892684cf |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 March 2023, China opens its borders to foreign tourists after more than three years of restrictions by allowing all categories of visas to be issued.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-resume-issuing-all-types-visas-foreigners-bloomberg-news-2023-03-13 | title=China to fully reopen borders to foreigners but near-term hurdles remain | newspaper=Reuters | date=14 March 2023 | last1=Cash | first1=Joe | last2=Yu | first2=Sophie | last3=Cash | first3=Joe | access-date=14 March 2023 | archive-date=14 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314181025/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-resume-issuing-all-types-visas-foreigners-bloomberg-news-2023-03-13/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

== December 2022–January 2023 surge ==
Following the rapid scaling down of stringent zero-COVID restrictions, Beijing reported a surge in COVID-19 infections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Dake |date=2022-12-24 |title=Packed ICUs, crowded crematoriums: COVID roils Chinese towns |url=https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-d0718b53ded7fb1a70c2db8e564ed072 |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224181923/https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-d0718b53ded7fb1a70c2db8e564ed072 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Feng |first=Emily |date=23 December 2022 |title=Fears of a 'dark COVID winter' in rural China grow as the holiday rush begins |language=en |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/23/1145252501/fears-of-a-dark-covid-winter-in-rural-china-grow-as-the-holiday-rush-begins |access-date=2022-12-25 |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225034700/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/23/1145252501/fears-of-a-dark-covid-winter-in-rural-china-grow-as-the-holiday-rush-begins |url-status=live }}</ref> The Chinese central government's reported death statistics only include cases in which COVID-19 directly caused respiratory failure, which led to skepticism by health experts of the government's total death count.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bradsher |first1=Keith |last2=Chien |first2=Amy Chang |last3=Dong |first3=Joy |date=2022-12-23 |title=As Cases Explode, China's Low Covid Death Toll Convinces No One |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/world/asia/china-covid-death-toll.html |access-date=2022-12-23 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223102800/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/world/asia/china-covid-death-toll.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 2022 |title=China's low covid death count is being criticized as implausible |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/20/china-covid-coronavirus-low-numbers/ |access-date=23 December 2022 |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223173533/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/20/china-covid-coronavirus-low-numbers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Restaurants and food delivery services were reported to have closed due to too many workers being infected and pharmacies have been emptied of medicine and disinfectant solution.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 December 2022 |title=As Covid Spreads Fast, Beijing Isn't in Lockdown. But It Feels Like It |language=en |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/world/asia/china-covid-zero-beijing.html |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215200528/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/world/asia/china-covid-zero-beijing.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 December, reports of Covid surges in smaller towns across China have attracted nationwide attention. In [[Dazhou]] and [[Baoding]], locals said that clinics are seeing an overflow in patients.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.whatsonweibo.com/big-covid-outbreaks-in-small-chinese-towns-baoding-and-dazhou-share-struggles-on-social-media | title=Big Covid Outbreaks in Small Chinese Towns: Baoding and Dazhou Share Struggles on Social Media | date=10 December 2022 | access-date=8 January 2023 | archive-date=8 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108163937/https://www.whatsonweibo.com/big-covid-outbreaks-in-small-chinese-towns-baoding-and-dazhou-share-struggles-on-social-media | url-status=live }}</ref> The Central Economic Work Conference, a key economic policy meeting, was subsequently postponed due to the spike in infections.<ref>{{cite news |title=China Postpones Key Economic Policy Meeting Due to Covid Spike |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-13/china-postpones-key-economic-policy-meeting-due-to-covid-spike |website=Bloomberg |language=en |date=13 December 2022 |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213103454/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-13/china-postpones-key-economic-policy-meeting-due-to-covid-spike |url-status=live }}</ref> On 15 December, the National Health Commission has stopped reporting asymptomatic cases as it was "impossible to accurately grasp" the actual number of asymptomatic infections.<ref>{{cite news |title='Beijing's really confused now': China stops reporting most COVID cases |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/beijing-s-really-confused-now-china-stops-reporting-most-covid-cases-20221215-p5c6sv.html |website=Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 December 2022 |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215200528/https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/beijing-s-really-confused-now-china-stops-reporting-most-covid-cases-20221215-p5c6sv.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 20 December, the Chinese State Council narrowed its definition of what would be counted as a COVID-19 death, specifying that only deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure would count toward the total number of fatalities resulting from SARS-CoV-2. This decision came as long lines of hearses appeared outside of crematoriums throughout China and medical students at universities nationwide protested for better pay and increased protections at overcrowded hospitals.<ref name="Surge Definitions">{{cite news |last1=Yu |first1=Verna |title=China changes definition of Covid deaths as cases surge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/21/china-covid-infection-surge-puts-end-of-global-emergency-in-doubt-who |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=20 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222175121/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/21/china-covid-infection-surge-puts-end-of-global-emergency-in-doubt-who |archive-date=22 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="Med Student Protests">{{cite news |last1=Zhang |first1=Phoebe |title=Coronavirus in China: medical students demand better pay, protection on Covid front line |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3203548/coronavirus-china-medical-students-demand-better-pay-protection-covid-front-line |access-date=22 December 2022 |publisher=South China Morning Post |date=16 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220095726/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3203548/coronavirus-china-medical-students-demand-better-pay-protection-covid-front-line |archive-date=20 December 2022}}</ref>

On 22 December, a report by UK research firm [[Airfinity]] modelling based on regional Chinese data estimated that more than 5,000 people are probably dying each day from COVID-19 in China, with cases rising fastest in Beijing and Guangdong province.<ref>{{cite news |title=China COVID deaths probably running above 5,000 per day - UK research firm Airfinity |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-covid-deaths-probably-running-above-5000-per-day-uk-research-firm-2022-12-22 |website=Reuters |date=22 December 2022 |access-date=23 December 2022 |archive-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106142746/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-covid-deaths-probably-running-above-5000-per-day-uk-research-firm-2022-12-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Internal minutes from a meeting of China's National Health Commission held on 21 December revealed that as many as 248 million people in China might have contracted COVID-19 over the first 20 days of December and nearly 37 million people may have been infected on a single day.<ref>{{cite news |title=China Estimates Covid Surge Is Infecting 37 Million People a Day |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-23/china-estimates-covid-surge-is-infecting-37-million-people-a-day |website=Bloomberg |date=23 December 2022 |access-date=23 December 2022 |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111070341/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-23/china-estimates-covid-surge-is-infecting-37-million-people-a-day |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 December, [[Qingdao]]'s municipal health chief Bo Tao has been quoted in a news report that the city was seeing "between 490,000 and 530,000" new infections each day. On the same day, [[Dongguan]]'s health commission declared on its Weixin account that the city had 250,000 to 300,000 people being infected every day.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=24 December 2022 |title=Chinese Cities Reveal Covid Cases Surpassing National Tally |magazine=Time |url=https://time.com/6243521/china-covid-cases-surpass-official-tally |access-date=25 December 2022 |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225023358/https://time.com/6243521/china-covid-cases-surpass-official-tally/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Officials in [[Yulin, Shaanxi|Yulin]], a city of 3.6 million people in Shaanxi province, logged 157,000 new infections with models estimating more than a third of the city's population had already been infected.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/25/world/asia/covid-spreading-china.html | title=Covid is Spreading Rapidly in China, New Signs Suggest | work=The New York Times | date=25 December 2022 | last1=Che | first1=Chang | access-date=25 December 2022 | archive-date=25 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225160127/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/25/world/asia/covid-spreading-china.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 December, the National Health Commission announced that it would no longer report daily COVID-19 figures.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Griffiths |first=Robbie |date=2022-12-25 |title=China has stopped publishing daily COVID data amid reports of a huge spike in cases |language=en |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/12/25/1145472905/china-stops-publishing-daily-covid-data |access-date=2022-12-25 |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225182916/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/25/1145472905/china-stops-publishing-daily-covid-data |url-status=live }}</ref> Zhejiang provincial government said it is battling around a million new infections a day and expected the number to be doubling in days ahead.<ref>{{Cite news |title=China's Zhejiang has 1 mln daily COVID cases, expected to double |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-national-health-commission-stop-publishing-daily-covid-figures-2022-12-25 |date=25 December 2022 |access-date=25 December 2022 |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225022142/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-national-health-commission-stop-publishing-daily-covid-figures-2022-12-25/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

A ''New York Times'' report on 27 December shown patients in gurneys crammed into corridors in Tianjin's Medical University General Hospital. The report also highlighted a shortage of medicines and a staffing crisis in hospitals in several major cities.<ref>{{cite news |title='Tragic Battle': On the Front Lines of China's Covid Crisis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/world/asia/china-covid-hospital-crisis.html |work=[[New York Times]] |date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114230656/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/world/asia/china-covid-hospital-crisis.html|archive-date=14 January 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> As China reopened in December 2022, an analysis of obituaries by the ''Times'' also found that retired Chinese scientists and scholars had begun to pass away at higher rates than would normally be expected, adding to speculation that deaths had been undercounted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robles |first1=Pablo |last2=Wang |first2=Vivian |last3=Dong |first3=Joy |title=In China's Covid Fog, Deaths of Scholars Offer a Clue |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/05/world/asia/china-obits-covid.html |access-date=5 February 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205101609/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/05/world/asia/china-obits-covid.html |archive-date=5 February 2023}}</ref>

On 30 December, the World Health Organization asked the [[National Health Commission]] and the [[National Disease Control and Prevention Administration]] to share more data about its surge of cases, as some countries began to require negative COVID-19 tests for Chinese travelers amid fears of new variants of concern. The WHO also invited Chinese health authorities to share "detailed data on viral sequencing" ahead of a 3 January advisory meeting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Zhenzhen |title=WHO urges China to share more information on surging Covid-19 infections |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3205172/who-urges-china-share-more-information-surging-covid-19-infections |access-date=31 December 2022 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231080132/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3205172/who-urges-china-share-more-information-surging-covid-19-infections |archive-date=31 December 2022}}</ref>

On 3 January 2023, the ''[[People's Daily]]'' reported that up to 70% of Shanghai's population has been infected. In Ruijin Hospital, the volume of patients in the emergency unit has doubled to 1,600 people per day, 80% of them being Covid-related.<ref>{{cite news |title=Covid-19 in China: up to 70 per cent of Shanghai's population has now been infected, says leading city doctor |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3205455/covid-19-china-70-cent-shanghais-population-has-now-been-infected-says-leading-city-doctor |publisher=South China Morning Post |date=3 January 2022 |access-date=10 January 2023 |archive-date=10 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110172553/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3205455/covid-19-china-70-cent-shanghais-population-has-now-been-infected-says-leading-city-doctor |url-status=live }}</ref> Reports emerged of hospitals in the city being overcrowded and funeral homes inundated with mourners.<ref>{{cite news |title=This Is What Shanghai's Covid Outbreak Looks Like |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/world/asia/china-covid-shanghai-photos.html |work=[[New York Times]] |date=10 January 2022 |access-date=10 January 2023 |archive-date=10 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110172553/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/world/asia/china-covid-shanghai-photos.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a 4 January media briefing, Director [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus|Tedros Ghebreyesus]] of the World Health Organization stated that Chinese hospitalization and mortality data lacked transparency and timeliness, while reiterating the importance of viral sequencing during the outbreak and continued vaccination efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-04 |title=China data 'under-represents' true impact of Covid outbreak – WHO |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/05/china-data-under-represents-true-impact-of-covid-outbreak-who |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105021722/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/05/china-data-under-represents-true-impact-of-covid-outbreak-who |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing – 4 January 2023 |url=https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing---4-january-2023 |access-date=6 January 2023 |publisher=World Health Organization |date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104150753/https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing---4-january-2023/ |archive-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>

As of 6 January 2023, the infection rate of [[Henan]] province had reached 89 percent, according to Kan Quancheng, director of the province's health commission. This percentage of infections meant that roughly 88.5 million people had contracted COVID-19 within just one month of the country's reopening, though Kan noted that visits to fever clinics in the province had peaked on 19 December.<ref>{{cite news |title=90% of people in China province infected with Covid, says local health official |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/09/life-is-moving-forward-china-enters-new-phase-in-covid-fight-as-borders-open |access-date=9 January 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=9 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109052326/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/09/life-is-moving-forward-china-enters-new-phase-in-covid-fight-as-borders-open |archive-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

On 11 January, infections had reached 64 percent of China's population, or 900 million people, according to a Peking University study which further specified that the largely rural provinces of Gansu, Yunnan, and Qinghai had infection rates of 90%, 84%, and 80%, respectively. Earlier in January, the Chinese CDC began to focus efforts on protecting less-developed regions of the country ahead of [[Chunyun]], the world's largest annual migration, with roughly two billion trips expected around [[Chinese New Year]], many taking place to and from the Chinese countryside.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yong |first1=Nicholas |title=Covid cases in China touch 900 million - study |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64258799 |access-date=13 January 2023 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113053211/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64258799 |archive-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> Travellers were urged not to visit their elderly relatives to prevent them becoming infected.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Helen |last2=McKie |first2=Robin |title=Nearly 60,000 people have died of Covid in China in past five weeks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/14/nearly-60000-people-have-died-of-covid-in-china-in-past-five-weeks |access-date=15 January 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114232833/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/14/nearly-60000-people-have-died-of-covid-in-china-in-past-five-weeks |archive-date=14 January 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 14 January, the Chinese National Health Commission reported 59,938 COVID-related deaths from 8 December 2022 to 12 January 2023, following complaints that it was withholding data. The figure includes 5,503 people who died of respiratory failure caused by COVID and 54,435 fatalities linked to other underlying illnesses. Up until this data disclosure, the official death toll in China had previously only totaled 5,241 people for the entirety of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |title=China Reports Nearly 60,000 Covid-Linked Deaths Since Lifting Restrictions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/14/world/asia/china-60000-covid-deaths.html |date=14 January 2023 |work=[[New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115010056/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/14/world/asia/china-60000-covid-deaths.html |archive-date=15 January 2023|url-status=live }}</ref> [[Reuters]] reported that doctors were discouraged by hospital authorities from citing COVID-19 on death certificates.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pollard |first1=Martin Quin |last2=Tham |first2=Engen |date=2023-01-17 |title=In China, doctors say they are discouraged from citing COVID on death certificates |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-doctors-say-they-are-discouraged-citing-covid-death-certificates-2023-01-17/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120173041/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-doctors-say-they-are-discouraged-citing-covid-death-certificates-2023-01-17/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 21 January, the [[Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention|Chinese CDC]] estimates that as many as 80% of people have been infected, hence the possibility of a rebound in cases in the next two or three months is low.<ref name="CCDC estimate"/> On 22 January, it reported nearly 13,000 COVID-related deaths in hospitals between 13 and 19 January.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chinese pray for health in Lunar New Year as COVID death toll rises |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-almost-13000-new-covid-related-deaths-jan-13-19-2023-01-22/ |work=Reuters |date=22 January 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528102319/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-reports-almost-13000-new-covid-related-deaths-jan-13-19-2023-01-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 January, the Chinese CDC released data showing the infection wave had been past its peak, with severe cases and deaths in hospitals down almost 90 per cent since infection peak. During the peak, there were 128,000 critically ill COVID patients in Chinese hospitals on 5 January and the number of deaths in hospitals reached their highest point of 4,273 cases on 4 January.<ref>{{cite news |title=China claims Covid wave has peaked with severe cases, deaths falling fast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/27/china-claims-covid-wave-has-peaked-with-severe-cases-deaths-falling-fast |work=The Guardian |date=27 January 2023 |access-date=31 January 2023 |archive-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131210759/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/27/china-claims-covid-wave-has-peaked-with-severe-cases-deaths-falling-fast |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 30 March, Chinese authorities announced a plan of random spot checks to be conducted at health facilities throughout the country in order to determine the future accuracy of local COVID data reporting amid global calls for more transparency during the winter surge.<ref name="Spot checks">{{cite news |title=China plans random, spot checks at hospitals to track COVID |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-plans-random-spot-checks-hospitals-track-covid-2023-03-30/ |access-date=31 March 2023 |publisher=Reuters |date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330062745/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-plans-random-spot-checks-hospitals-track-covid-2023-03-30/ |archive-date=30 March 2023}}</ref>

Zhejiang provincial data, reported on in July 2023, showed a 70% increase in cremations during the first three months of 2023, an increase of 99,000 cremations compared to the first quarter of 2022. This data was subsequently taken down from public sources.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chinese province saw cremations jump during COVID surge |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-province-saw-cremations-jump-during-covid-surge-2023-07-18/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |publisher=Reuters |date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718155542/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-province-saw-cremations-jump-during-covid-surge-2023-07-18/ |archive-date=18 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

On 14 April, Chinese official data indicated that COVID-19 positivity rate went up slightly in early April, but specialists noted that it's "unlikely" China will see another wave of large-scale infections. Authorities have dropped mandatory mask requirements when using public transport, signaling the end of the pandemic according to CCDC epidemiologist Wu Zunyou.<ref>{{cite news |title='Era has passed' as Beijing subway drops mandatory COVID mask rule |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/era-has-passed-beijing-subway-drops-mandatory-covid-mask-rule-2023-04-16 |publisher=Reuters |date=16 April 2023 |access-date=20 April 2023 |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420180821/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/era-has-passed-beijing-subway-drops-mandatory-covid-mask-rule-2023-04-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 22 May, leading Chinese pulmonologist Zhong Nanshan contradicted earlier predictions and noted that the first major wave of infections following the reopening surge was beginning to build, with 65 million cases per week expected by the end of June. Zhong noted that China would soon release specific vaccines tailored toward the XBB Omicron subvariants, which were likely driving the latest wave.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuo |first1=Lily |title=China prepares for new wave of covid cases from XBB variants |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/24/china-new-covid-outbreak-xbb-strain/ |access-date=24 May 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524232649/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/24/china-new-covid-outbreak-xbb-strain/ |archive-date=24 May 2023}}</ref>

In November 2023, China's health authorities reported [[2023 Chinese pneumonia outbreak|an outbreak of respiratory illnesses]] in several parts of northern China. The increase in these diseases was attributed the circulation of known pathogens, including  [[SARS-CoV-2]].

== Impact ==
[[E-commerce in China|E-commerce]] contributed substantially to China's COVID-19 pandemic response by facilitating fast delivery of personal protective equipment, food, and daily use consumer goods during lockdowns.<ref name=":Liu">{{Cite book |last=Liu |first=Lizhi |title=From Click to Boom: The Political Economy of E-Commerce in China |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780691254104 |pages=159 |doi=10.1515/9780691254111 |jstor=jj.14527541}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{See also|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education}}
On 27 January 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Education advised all higher education institutions to postpone the spring semester, with all local education departments to determine the starting time of the new semester for K-12 education and local colleges according to the decision of the local governments.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 January 2020 |script-title=zh:教育部发布2020年春季学期延期开学的通知 |language=zh |work=央视新闻客户端 |url=https://cbgc.scol.com.cn/news/222002 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127153021/https://cbgc.scol.com.cn/news/222002 |archive-date=27 January 2020}}</ref> The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security also decided to put the new semester off for all vocational education facilities.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=zh:人社部：全国技工院校2020年春季学期延期开学 |url=http://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2020-01-28/1403421.html |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129135724/http://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2020-01-28/1403421.html |archive-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Further|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion}}

The Chinese government, which upholds a policy of [[state atheism]], used the pandemic to continue its [[Antireligious campaigns in China|antireligious campaigns]], demolishing Xiangbaishu Church in [[Yixing]] and removing a Christian cross from the steeple of a church in [[Guiyang County]].<ref name="2020Parke2">{{cite web |last1=Parke |first1=Caleb |date=23 March 2020 |title=In coronavirus fight, China hasn't stopped persecuting Christians: watchdog |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/coronavirus-china-update-christian-persecution-vom |access-date=27 March 2020 |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]] |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327162510/https://www.foxnews.com/world/coronavirus-china-update-christian-persecution-vom |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Klett20202">{{cite web |last1=Klett |first1=Leah MarieAnn |date=21 March 2020 |title=China demolishes church, removes crosses as Christians worship at home |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-demolishes-church-removes-crosses-as-christians-worship-at-home.html |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=[[The Christian Post]] |archive-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322131223/https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-demolishes-church-removes-crosses-as-christians-worship-at-home.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Public discourse ===
In 2020 and 2021, although successive and lengthy lockdowns occasionally caused distress in border towns, the majority of publicly expressed commentary appeared to be largely in favor of China's stringent COVID mitigation strategies as necessary for the protection of human life, even to the point where complaints from locked-down residents sometimes resulted in online vitriol from compatriots outside of these regions.<ref name="Border towns">{{cite news |last1=Feng |first1=Emily |title=One Chinese town has started a fiery online debate about China's zero-COVID policy |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/11/05/1052811962/one-chinese-town-has-started-a-fiery-online-debate-about-chinas-zero-covid-polic |access-date=11 January 2023 |publisher=NPR |date=5 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107005201/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/11/05/1052811962/one-chinese-town-has-started-a-fiery-online-debate-about-chinas-zero-covid-polic |archive-date=7 November 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, however, with highly infectious Omicron strains impacting the feasibility of China's Zero-COVID policy, public discourse inside China became increasingly divided between citizens in favor of the stringent policies as a matter of both national pride and public health necessity, and people such as university students, migrant workers, and small business owners who felt that the restrictions  on movement and livelihood were, in and of themselves, a cause of undue suffering. In turn, upon the abrupt abandonment of Zero-COVID, some proponents of the discarded policy went on to criticize the government's sudden U-turn and question the need for a single, unified voice on such matters.<ref name="Online anger">{{cite news |last1=Che |first1=Chang |last2=Fu |first2=Claire |last3=Chang Chien |first3=Amy |title=As China Reopens, Online Finger-Pointing Shows a Widening Gulf |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/11/world/asia/china-zero-covid-reopening.html |access-date=11 January 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111104823/http://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/11/world/asia/china-zero-covid-reopening.html/ |archive-date=11 January 2023}}</ref>

Other commentators reacted with anger toward participants in the recent protests, blaming them for widespread infection and death, although data pointed to Omicron having already overwhelmed the mechanisms of Zero-COVID at the time of the policy's discontinuation. Still others blamed the government for giving into popular demand and thus strengthening foreign and domestic criticism of Chinese policy.<ref name="Online anger" />

Ultimately, lockdowns in China were highly effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and there was wide public consensus in China that the benefits outweighed the costs.<ref name=":Zhang">{{Cite book |last=Zhang |first=Angela Huyue |title=High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197682258}}</ref>{{Rp|page=67}}

== Government response ==
{{Main|Zero-COVID|Chinese government response to COVID-19}}
China is one of a small number of countries that have pursued an [[Zero-COVID|elimination strategy]], sustaining a low case numbers between the 2020 outbreak until early 2022.

China's response to the initial [[Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak|Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak]] has been both praised and criticised. Some have criticised the [[Censorship in China|censorship]] of information that might be unfavorable for local officials. Observers have attributed this to a culture of institutional censorship affecting the country's [[Mass media in China|press]] and [[Internet in China|Internet]]. The government censored [[whistleblower]]s, [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism|journalists]], and [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social media|social media posts]] about the outbreak. During the beginning of the pandemic, the Chinese government made efforts to clamp down on discussion and hide reporting about it. Efforts to fund and control [[Investigations into the origin of COVID-19|research into the virus's origins]] and to [[COVID-19 misinformation by China|promote fringe theories]] about the virus have continued up to the present.<ref name="ChinaClampsDownAp">{{cite news|last1=Cheng|first1=Maria|last2=Kang|first2=Dake|last3=McNeil|first3=Sam|date=30 December 2020|title=China clamps down in hidden hunt for coronavirus origins|website=AP News|publisher=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-coronavirus-pandemic-china-only-on-ap-bats-24fbadc58cee3a40bca2ddf7a14d2955|access-date=18 January 2022|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120162344/https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-coronavirus-pandemic-china-only-on-ap-bats-24fbadc58cee3a40bca2ddf7a14d2955|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2020, ''The Lancet Infectious Diseases'' reported: "While the world is struggling to control COVID-19, China has managed to control the pandemic rapidly and effectively."<ref name="Lancet-ID-Burki-2020">{{cite journal |journal=The Lancet Infectious Diseases |first=Talha |last=Burki |volume=20 |issue=11 |pages=1240–1241 |date=8 October 2020 |doi=10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30800-8 |title=China's successful control of COVID-19|pmid=33038941 |pmc=7544475 }}</ref>

=== Immigration control ===
{{further|Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic}}

During the early phase of the pandemic, Hubei suspended the processing of applications from mainland Chinese residents for entry and exit of mainland China. For those with a valid visa to enter Hong Kong and Macau, but fail to enter the areas due to the outbreak, the Chinese Immigration Administration will issue a new visa for free on request of the visa holder after the outbreak is lifted. Some of [[Automated border control system|automated border clearance systems]] will be shut down according to the needs of the epidemic prevention. After Wuhan declared lockdown on 23 January, the [[Wuhan Tianhe International Airport|Tianhe Airport]] and [[Hankou]] River ports have been without passengers for several days.<ref name="Cai-2020">{{cite web |date=27 January 2020 |script-title=zh:国家移民管理局：武汉已4天无人员出境 |url=http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202001/27/WS5e2e7d0de4b0e6e58393caf2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127153902/http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202001/27/WS5e2e7d0de4b0e6e58393caf2.html |archive-date=27 January 2020 |access-date=27 January 2020 |website=北京日报客户端 |language=zh-cn}}</ref>

Since 25 January 2020,<ref>{{cite web |date=26 January 2020 |script-title=zh:防武汉肺炎 台湾扩大管制大陆人士赴台 |url=https://www.dwnews.com/台湾/60166195/防武汉肺炎台湾扩大管制大陆人士赴台 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204160927/https://www.dwnews.com/%E5%8F%B0%E6%B9%BE/60166195/%E9%98%B2%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E5%8F%B0%E6%B9%BE%E6%89%A9%E5%A4%A7%E7%AE%A1%E5%88%B6%E5%A4%A7%E9%99%86%E4%BA%BA%E5%A3%AB%E8%B5%B4%E5%8F%B0 |archive-date=4 February 2020 |access-date=4 February 2020 |work=[[Duowei News]] |language=zh-CN}}</ref> Taiwan's government banned anyone from mainland China entering the country with<ref name="Straits Times-2020">{{cite web |date=4 February 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Taiwan evacuates first group from Wuhan, announces limit on mask purchases |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/coronavirus-taiwan-evacuates-first-group-from-wuhan-announces-limit-on-mask-purchases |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204160925/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/coronavirus-taiwan-evacuates-first-group-from-wuhan-announces-limit-on-mask-purchases |archive-date=4 February 2020 |access-date=4 February 2020 |website=The Straits Times}}</ref> the ban extended to mainland Chinese overseas.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 January 2020 |script-title=zh:台灣嚴防疫情 海外大陸籍人士也禁止入境 |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/6755178/article-%e5%8f%b0%e7%81%a3%e5%9a%b4%e9%98%b2%e7%96%ab%e6%83%85-%e6%b5%b7%e5%a4%96%e5%a4%a7%e9%99%b8%e7%b1%8d%e4%ba%ba%e5%a3%ab%e4%b9%9f%e7%a6%81%e6%ad%a2%e5%85%a5%e5%a2%83/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204160945/https://www.worldjournal.com/6755178/article-%e5%8f%b0%e7%81%a3%e5%9a%b4%e9%98%b2%e7%96%ab%e6%83%85-%e6%b5%b7%e5%a4%96%e5%a4%a7%e9%99%b8%e7%b1%8d%e4%ba%ba%e5%a3%ab%e4%b9%9f%e7%a6%81%e6%ad%a2%e5%85%a5%e5%a2%83/ |archive-date=4 February 2020 |access-date=4 February 2020 |work=[[World Journal]] |language=zh-TW}}</ref> On 24 August 2022, the Chinese government began to ease restrictions for foreign students, allowing them to enter the country for the first time in more than two years.<ref>{{cite web |title=China reopens the door to foreign students after 2 years of Covid lockouts |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3189927/china-reopens-door-foreign-students-after-2-years-covid |website=SCMP |date=23 August 2022 |access-date=28 August 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828175921/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3189927/china-reopens-door-foreign-students-after-2-years-covid |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Lockdown and curfew ===
{{main|COVID-19 lockdown in China}}
[[File:Exit-Entry_Permit_for_Residents_During_the_Outbreak_of_2019-nCoV.png|thumb|Government-issued permit for [[Jintan]] residents. Jintan announced that each family should only have one member to be outdoor for shopping life necessities for every 2 days.]]
Ever since Hubei's lockdown, areas bordering Hubei including Yueyang in Hunan and Xinyang in Henan set up checkpoints on roads connecting to Hubei to monitor cars and people coming from Hubei.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 2020 |script-title=zh:劝返实录：汨罗大荆收费站劝返一辆湖北籍小车 |work=hunan.voc.com.cn |url=http://hunan.voc.com.cn/article/202001/202001261137266107.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126043041/https://hunan.voc.com.cn/article/202001/202001261137266107.html |archive-date=26 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=25 January 2020 |script-title=zh:记者探访信阳市鄂豫交界卡点：7小时劝返133人 |publisher=Sina Corp |url=https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-01-25/doc-iihnzhha4652111.shtml |url-status=live |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126043022/https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-01-25/doc-iihnzhha4652111.shtml |archive-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> Between 24 and 25 January, the local governments of Shanghai, Jiangsu, [[Hainan]] and other areas announced to quarantine passengers from "key areas" of Hubei for 14 days.<ref>{{Cite news |author=吴怡 |date=25 January 2020 |script-title=zh:海南：对来自湖北的过海登岛旅客进行集中医学观察14天 |language=zh |work=澎湃新闻 |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5633604 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125220936/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5633604 |archive-date=25 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=陈思思 |date=25 January 2020 |script-title=zh:对重点地区来沪人员，上海三方面措施落实社区防控 |language=zh |work=澎湃新闻 |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5633528 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127035711/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5633528 |archive-date=27 January 2020}}</ref> [[Chongqing]] also announced mandatory screening of every person who arrived from Wuhan since 1 January, and set up 3 treatment centers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 January 2020 |script-title=zh:重庆将开展网格化筛查应对疫情 |language=zh |work=重庆日报 |url=http://cq.gov.cn/zwxx/jrcq/202001/t20200125_4785638.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125145232/http://www.cq.gov.cn/zwxx/jrcq/202001/t20200125_4785638.html |archive-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>

During the [[2019–2020 COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China|2019–2020 COVID-19 outbreak]], factories were closed or reduced production for a few weeks. When they opened again, measures were implemented to reduce risk.<ref name="containvirus22">{{cite web |date=19 February 2020 |title=Quarantine, red-tape and face masks: inside China's coronavirus-hit wind industry |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/quarantine-red-tape-and-face-masks-inside-chinas-coronavirus-hit-wind-industry/2-1-758846 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |access-date=17 March 2020 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320225429/https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/quarantine-red-tape-and-face-masks-inside-chinas-coronavirus-hit-wind-industry/2-1-758846 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="containvirus32">{{cite web |last1=Alvarez |first1=Simon |date=17 March 2020 |title=Tesla China shares Giga Shanghai safety measures against COVID-19 virus |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-china-giga-shanghai-covid-19-fremont-factory-elon-musk/ |website=TESLARATI |access-date=17 March 2020 |archive-date=19 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319224920/https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-china-giga-shanghai-covid-19-fremont-factory-elon-musk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Vaccination ===
In July 2020, the government granted an emergency use authorization for two [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s.<ref name="Bloomberg China Says 1 Million22">{{cite news |date=19 December 2020 |title=China Says 1 Million Vaccines Given; Plans Further Rollout |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-19/china-says-1-million-vaccines-already-given-plans-further-shots |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-date=19 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219231047/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-19/china-says-1-million-vaccines-already-given-plans-further-shots |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="vaccines cnbc 2020-12-1922">{{cite news |date=19 December 2020 |title=China to vaccinate high-risk groups over winter and spring, health official says |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/19/china-vaccine-coronavirus-high-risk-groups-to-be-vaccinated-in-winter-spring.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-date=20 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220005106/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/19/china-vaccine-coronavirus-high-risk-groups-to-be-vaccinated-in-winter-spring.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It has also pledged or provided humanitarian assistance to other countries dealing with the virus.<ref name="As China Cracks Down2"/><ref name="The New York Times2"/>

By June 2021, a billion doses of domestically produced vaccine had been administered in China, giving a dose rate similar to many European countries.<ref name="guardian-202106152">{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Helen |date=15 June 2021 |title=China set to administer 1bn Covid vaccine doses by end of this week |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/15/china-set-to-deliver-1bn-covid-vaccine-doses-by-end-of-this-week |access-date=17 June 2021 |archive-date=16 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616051004/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/15/china-set-to-deliver-1bn-covid-vaccine-doses-by-end-of-this-week |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Xiong |first1=Yong |last2=Gan |first2=Nectar |last3=He |first3=Laura |date=20 June 2021 |title=China has administered more than 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/20/asia/china-one-billion-doses-intl/index.html |access-date=20 June 2021 |website=CNN |archive-date=20 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620092216/https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/20/asia/china-one-billion-doses-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A further billion doses had been administered by late August of the same year.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 August 2021 |title=China claims to have given 2 billion jabs to citizens |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/china-claims-to-have-given-2-billion-jabs-to-citizens-101630089633476.html |access-date=8 September 2021 |publisher=hindustantimes |archive-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907124853/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/china-claims-to-have-given-2-billion-jabs-to-citizens-101630089633476.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Another 1 billion doses were administered by the end of January 2022. In February 2022, Pfizer's Covid therapy tablet Paxlovid has received conditional approval in China. It is the first oral pill created exclusively to treat the disease in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 February 2022 |title=China conditionally approves Pfizer's Covid treatment pill Paxlovid |pages=1 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/12/china-conditionally-approves-pfizer-covid-treatment-pill-paxlovid |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213003430/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/12/china-conditionally-approves-pfizer-covid-treatment-pill-paxlovid |url-status=live }}</ref>

While public authorities have mandated lockdowns and mandatory mass testing for areas with infection, there has not been any rule to making vaccination mandatory. Some facilities within China have made vaccination mandatory for entry, including things like movie theatres, fitness centres, internet bars, museums and libraries.<ref name="bbc.com 中国新冠病毒清零政策对习近平造成危险">{{Cite web |date=2022-07-09 |title=中国新冠病毒"清零"政策对习近平造成危险 |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-62089752 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=BBC News 中文 |language=zh-hans |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111010631/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-62089752 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2022, according to official figures, while 89% had received 2 doses, only 56% of eligible people had received a booster dose. Furthermore, this was even lower among vulnerable elderly age groups, with only 19.7% of people over the age of 80 having received a booster dose. According to BBC reporting, this may have been attributed to public confidence in the ability of authorities to control outbreaks, the narrative presented by public authorities within China that the virus was mainly an overseas problem as well as some doctors within China who warned vulnerable people of the health risks of the vaccine.<ref name="bbc.com 中国新冠病毒清零政策对习近平造成危险"/>

[[File:PRC_Exit-Entry_Health_Declaration_Form_-_February_2020.jpg|thumb|Since 25 January 2020, all passengers entering or exiting mainland China in Beijing, Shanghai and [[Guangdong]] must write a health declaration where the individual must answer whether they have been to Hubei Province. This declaration form can also be filled by using [[WeChat]].<ref>{{cite web |date=30 January 2020 |title=出入境健康申报指引 |url=https://tech.sina.com.cn/roll/2020-01-30/doc-iimxxste7740072.shtml |access-date=31 January 2020 |work=中央广播电视总台国际在线 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131145409/https://tech.sina.com.cn/roll/2020-01-30/doc-iimxxste7740072.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
China has provided vaccines to other countries. In November 2021, the Chinese government pledged to provide 1 billion vaccine doses to African countries, including 600 million donated doses and 400 million other doses, in addition to the 200 million doses it had already provided. In the same announcement, Xi pledged additional investment in Africa and promised to send 1,500 public health experts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mcallister |first1=Edward |last2=Daly |first2=Tom |date=30 November 2021 |title=China's Xi pledges another 1 bln COVID-19 vaccine doses for Africa |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/chinas-xi-pledges-10-bln-credit-line-african-financial-institutions-2021-11-29/ |access-date=25 December 2021 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225083313/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/chinas-xi-pledges-10-bln-credit-line-african-financial-institutions-2021-11-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Credit rating relief ===
On 1 February 2020, the [[People's Bank of China]] announced it would temporarily suspend the inclusion of mortgage and credit card payments in the credit record of people impacted by the pandemic.<ref name=":44">{{Cite book |last=Brussee |first=Vincent |title=Social Credit: The Warring States of China's Emerging Data Empire |publisher=[[Palgrave MacMillan]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-981-99-2188-1 |location=Singapore}}</ref>{{Rp|page=134}} Private financial credit scoring companies, including [[Sesame Credit]], suspended financial credit ratings.<ref name=":44" />{{Rp|page=134}}

=== Redlisting ===
Various cities established mechanisms to incentivize companies to provide pandemic relief, with measures including [[whitelist]]ing (referred to in China as redlisting) for those donating funds and supplies with benefits like simplified administrative procedures, increased policy support, or increased financial support.<ref name=":44" />{{Rp|page=135}}

=== Other regulatory measures ===
Following a speech by Xi Jinping emphasizing areas of regulatory compliance, provinces and cities promulgated regulations emphasizing heavy penalties for price hikes, violence against doctors, counterfeit medical supplies, refusal to comply with pandemic prevention measures, and wildlife trade violations.<ref name=":44" />{{Rp|page=134}}

== Discrimination ==
{{Main|Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic|Racism in China#COVID-19 pandemic}}

Fear, [[regional discrimination in China]], and [[Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic|racial discrimination within and beyond China]] increased with the growing number of reported cases of infections despite calls for stopping the discrimination by many governments.<ref name="fox612">{{Citation |title=Wuhan coronavirus reaches India as countries evacuate citizens from China |date=30 January 2020 |url=https://fox61.com/2020/01/30/wuhan-coronavirus-reaches-india-as-countries-evacuate-citizens-from-china/ |access-date=10 February 2020 |archive-date=10 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210184315/https://fox61.com/2020/01/30/wuhan-coronavirus-reaches-india-as-countries-evacuate-citizens-from-china/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Dazed2">{{cite web |last1=Benjamin |first1=Patrick |last2=Zhi |first2=Sakura |date=6 February 2020 |title=Life under lockdown: Young people in Wuhan tell their coronavirus stories |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/47822/1/life-under-lockdown-young-people-in-wuhan-china-tell-their-coronavirus-stories |access-date=8 February 2020 |website=Dazed |archive-date=2 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402014538/https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/47822/1/life-under-lockdown-young-people-in-wuhan-china-tell-their-coronavirus-stories |url-status=live }}</ref> Some rumors circulated across Chinese social media, along with endorsements and counter-rumor efforts by media and governments.<ref name="bjnews.com.cn2">{{cite web |date=n.d. |script-title=zh:关于新型冠状病毒肺炎 这九大谣言别"中招" |url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/23/678570.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201044832/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/23/678570.html |archive-date=1 February 2020 |access-date=2 February 2020 |website=Beijing News |language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA2">{{cite web |date=n.d. |script-title=zh:聚焦 {{!}} 关于新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎疫情的最新辟谣！ |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/29/c_1125510533.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202181755/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/29/c_1125510533.htm |archive-date=2 February 2020 |access-date=2 February 2020 |language=zh-cn |agency=Xinhua News Agency}}</ref> The Chinese government has worked to censor and counter reporting and criticism about the crisis{{snd}}which included the prosecution of several citizen journalists<ref name="Gan-2020">{{Cite web |last1=Gan |first1=Nectar |last2=Griffiths |first2=James |title=Chinese journalist who documented Wuhan coronavirus outbreak jailed for 4 years |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/28/asia/china-journalist-zhang-zhan-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229153534/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/28/asia/china-journalist-zhang-zhan-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-date=29 December 2020 |access-date=29 December 2020 |website=CNN|date=28 December 2020 }}</ref>{{snd}}and portray the official response to the outbreak in a positive light. They have also provided humanitarian assistance to other countries dealing with the virus.<ref name="As China Cracks Down2">{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Javier C. |date=14 March 2020 |title=As China Cracks Down on Coronavirus Coverage, Journalists Fight Back |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/business/media/coronavirus-china-journalists.html |access-date=18 March 2020 |archive-date=19 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319064926/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/business/media/coronavirus-china-journalists.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The New York Times2">{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Steven Lee |date=10 March 2020 |title=Xi Goes to Wuhan, Coronavirus Epicenter, in Show of Confidence |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/world/asia/coronavirus-china-xi-jinping.html |access-date=18 March 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327162644/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/world/asia/coronavirus-china-xi-jinping.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="China Turns Focus Outward2">{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Steven Lee |last2=Rubin |first2=Alissa J. |date=18 March 2020 |title=Its Coronavirus Cases Dwindling, China Turns Focus Outward |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/world/asia/coronavirus-china-aid.html |access-date=31 March 2020 |archive-date=30 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330200902/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/world/asia/coronavirus-china-aid.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Misinformation and conspiracy theories ==
{{Main|COVID-19 misinformation by China}}

According to London-based ''[[The Economist]]'', on China's Internet, there were conspiracy theories about COVID-19 being the CIA's creation to keep China down.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 February 2020 |title=China's rulers see the coronavirus as a chance to tighten their grip |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2020/02/08/chinas-rulers-see-the-coronavirus-as-a-chance-to-tighten-their-grip |url-status=live |access-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200229034330/https://www.economist.com/china/2020/02/08/chinas-rulers-see-the-coronavirus-as-a-chance-to-tighten-their-grip |archive-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>

Multiple conspiracy articles in Chinese from the SARS era resurfaced during the outbreak with altered details, claiming that SARS is biological warfare conducted by the US against China. Some of these articles claim that [[BGI Group]] from China sold genetic information of the Chinese people to the US, with the US then being able to deploy the virus specifically targeting the [[genome]] of Chinese individuals.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=zh:中國家長指稱「武漢肺炎是美國投放病毒」 網友傻爆眼 |url=https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=677313 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219211548/https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=677313 |archive-date=19 February 2020 |language=zh-cn}}</ref>

== Statistics ==
{{main|Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China}}
The confirmed case count in mainland China only includes symptomatic cases; asymptomatic infections are reported separately.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shanghai locks down as daily Covid-19 infections set another record |url=https://www.ft.com/content/326062fb-5581-4dfa-bcba-32316ac8bbac |access-date=7 April 2022 |work=Financial Times |date=29 March 2022 |quote=Chinese official data counts "asymptomatic" cases, when an individual tests positive for the virus, separately from "confirmed" cases, where infected individuals have their symptoms verified through medical observation. |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407162135/https://www.ft.com/content/326062fb-5581-4dfa-bcba-32316ac8bbac |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[COVID-19 pandemic in China]]

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6 Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases] and [https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 historical data] by [[Johns Hopkins University]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200126135736/http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/yqtb/list_gzbd.shtml Reports on the COVID-19 pandemic in China], by the [[PRC National Health Commission]]
* [https://coronavirus-global.com/china Coronavirus China updates and news] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428090226/https://coronavirus-global.com/china/ |date=28 April 2020 }}. China in Coronavirus Global international portal. Available in English, French, Spanish, Russian and more.

{{#invoke:Portal bar|main|COVID-19|China|Medicine|Viruses}}
{{#invoke:COVID-19 pandemic|}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China}}

[[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China| ]]
[[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in China|mainland]]
[[Category:2020 disasters in China]]
[[Category:2021 disasters in China]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:2023 in China]]