China locks down area around Foxconn’s ‘iPhone City’ plant

The Taiwanese company, whose main listed arm is Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, is grappling with a Covid flare-up that forced some of its 200,000 staff into quarantine and pushed others to flee the facility – some on foot. — AP

China has ordered a seven-day lockdown of the area around Foxconn Technology Group’s main plant in Zhengzhou, a move that will severely curtail shipments in and out of the world’s largest iPhone factory.

The lockdown will last until Nov 9, the local government said in a statement posted to its WeChat account. No vehicles are allowed to operate except for those carrying necessities, the government said. The notice emerged after Zhengzhou reported Covid-19 cases jumped to 359 for Tuesday, up from 95 the day before.