China Enforces , Strict COVID Lockdown , Following Earthquake.<br />NBC reports that authorities in southwestern China's <br />Chengdu have imposed strict COVID lockdowns despite <br />a major earthquake that killed at least 65 people.<br />On September 5, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake <br />struck the province of Sichuan, which includes, <br />Chengdu, a city of 21 million people.<br />On September 6, footage circulated online showing <br />workers wearing protective gear preventing residents <br />of apartment complexes from exiting their homes.<br />Despite only recording a small number of cases, Chengdu's lockdown is the most severe since Shanghai was shut down over the summer.<br />That lockdown led to widespread <br />complaints over shortages of food, <br />medicine and access to health care.<br />NBC reports that the lockdown in Chengdu <br />appears to be similarly strict, with reports <br />of even ordering takeout being banned.<br />China's 'zero-COVID' policy, largely championed by party leader Xi Jinping, includes compulsory testing, lockdowns, quarantines and masking.<br />China's 'zero-COVID' policy, largely championed by party leader Xi Jinping, includes compulsory testing, lockdowns, quarantines and masking.<br />As of September 6, China reported<br />1,499 new cases of local infection, <br />most of which were asymptomatic.<br />There were a total of 138 new <br />cases in the Sichuan province. .<br />NBC reports that the earthquake and the lockdown <br />come amid a heatwave and drought that <br />caused water and power shortages.
