Surging Death Toll In China’s Hubei Puts 60 Million In Lock Down

The deadly coronavirus is displaying no signs of ceasing as the death toll continues to mount with over 100 new deaths reported on Sunday. As per health officials, the total number of deaths has reached to 1,770 with the more than 70500  people infected in China. 

China’s Hubei province, which is the worst-hit, reported 1,933 new cases on Sunday with 100 deaths and 1,016 cases of recovery.

The total number of infected cases in the province has surged to 58,182, with 6,639 patients recovered and 1,696 dead. However, outside Hubei, the number of new infections have seemed to drop for 12 consecutive days now. 

In the worst-hit central Chinese Hubei province, at least 10 cities have suspended selling medicines for fever and cough, urging people who have such symptoms to go to the hospital instead. 

New measures are being taken to contain the spread of the virus in the Hubei province of around 60 million people. As per the new measures, all residential communities in urban and rural areas will undergo a lockdown, all non-essential public places will be closed, banning public gatherings and private vehicles will be banned. 

“The notice, published on Sunday, stipulates that all residential communities in urban and rural areas in Hubei are subject to the strictest 24-hour lockdown management, which prevents all outsiders and vehicles from entering if deemed unnecessary,” the state media reported.

Residents are restricted from going out of their communities and medicines and daily necessities would be collectively purchased and delivered to residents, the notice said.

According to the circular issued by the provincial government, new traffic measures will be implemented from Monday that includes enforcing province-wide traffic restrictions on all non-emergency vehicles and closing all non-essential public venues, according to the circular issued by the provincial government.

The circular said that the new measures were being taken in the Hubei province because it is at a “critical stage” to control the epidemic and the situation remains “grave”.