Omicron’s Sweep Through China Leaves Nearly 30 Million in Lockdown

China is locking down at least 20 places, including cities and regions, affecting nearly 30 million residents, as authorities race to escalate measures to control the stealthy omicron variant that has fueled the country’s worst Covid-19 outbreak in two years.

On Sunday, the city of Wuhu in Anhui province announced that it would lock down its central districts to carry out mass testing after it detected a single positive Covid-19 case. The lockdown targeting more than 2 million residents aims to stop the virus in its tracks and minimize its overall impact, local authorities said.