From locking down to carrying disinfection drives across the city to asking migrant workers to stay put and large-scale testing, China is going all out to stop the covid-19 from spreading further in Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1243512.shtml)

But the flare-up is showing no signs of going down.

According to authorities, the lockdown at Xi'an is the most severe ever since China announced the 'Zero Covid' policy when the virus first broke out in late 2019. With the Beijing Winter Olympics just over a month away, China wants to show the world that it can control outbreaks and minimise their spread. But is China succeeding in Xi'an in doing that remains a question mark.

Over 150 cases per day have been reported in China, most of them in Xi'an. The Chinese authorities have admitted it is now community spread. The recent cases mark the highest in the symptomatic category ever since the government there starting recording cases. According to the Guardian, the country recorded the highest daily rise in local cases in 21 months on Saturday. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/27/covid-cases-rise-in-xian-as-china-battles-biggest-community-outbreak-since-2020)

The Chinese government has punished local officials for allowing the virus go out of control. Domestic flights from the city have been cancelled. (https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/chinas-covid-hit-xian-city-reports-rise-infections-2400896)

China, which has largely kept the virus at bay after facing the initial assault in Wuhan in late 2019, this outbreak has been taken seriously. And it has showcased its model of controlling the virus as something successful. It had sniggered at countries questioning its "zero covid' strategy to control the virus.

How it will control the virus from spreading to other cities will interest the world.

Read more:

News report:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/chinas-city-xian-covid-lockdown-rcna10028

Chinese officials face punishment over Covid lockdown in Xian:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/24/chinese-officials-face-punishment-over-covid-lockdown-in-xian