China locks down almost one million people near iPhone factory

The iPhone manufacturing hub of Zhengzhou locked down one of its most-populated districts to tame a virus flareup. - SCMP

BEIJING (Bloomberg): The iPhone manufacturing hub of Zhengzhou locked down one of its most-populated districts to tame a virus flareup, with creeping restrictions throughout China underscoring the constant threat of disruption companies face while the country sticks to Covid Zero.

Almost 1 million residents of Zhongyuan district were ordered to stay at home starting Monday (Oct 17), except for when they need to undergo Covid testing, and non-essential businesses have been shut, according to a government notice. The wider restrictions follow the lockdown of some neighbourhoods last week, catching many people by surprise after officials had said there wouldn’t be a citywide lockdown.