Stuck in a Lockdown: Xian’s Quiet Chaos
Back in the year of the rabbit, Xian—the city about two hours southwest of Beijing—has found itself locked down again, and the crime scene isn’t exactly chaotic over here. Instead, a handful of local cases are slowly creeping up.
Daily Numbers: The Tiny Spike
- Sunday (Dec 26): 150 new symptomatic cases, up from 155 the day before.
- That may sound like a lot, but compared to overseas outbreaks it’s practically a sneeze.
- In total, Xian has 635 confirmed local cases from Dec 9‑26.
- Nationally: 162 symptomatic infections on Sunday, up from 158 the previous day.
- No deaths have been reported over the last 24 hours.
Clamour in a City of 13 Million
Even though the numbers are small, the city’s authorities have not spared any effort. Residents can only leave their homes if they have a legitimate reason—jobs or urgent matters that the local community or employers approve. Families must hold one shop‑run per two days, and it’s considered bad manners to touch the municipal plants after the big disinfecting wave that went through streets and buildings.
Clean Up & Test Drive
- City workers are spraying infectious-suppressing solutions on everything from road surfaces to streets.
- Mass testing kicked off on Monday—stay at home, just drop off your sample.
Neighbors in the Mix
Two neighboring cities, Xianyang and Weinan, each reported a single symptomatic infection on Sunday. Aside from Xian, you’ll find a handful of cases in Guangxi, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Sichuan—proof that the virus keeps a low profile but also likes to spread a bit in China’s vast provinces.
Why It Matters
This uptick marks the top daily count of symptomatic cases since China started distinguishing asymptomatic carriers back in March 2020.
With a total of 101,277 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, the death toll sits peacefully at 4,636.
For now, Xian remains a low‑key hotspot, but the authorities are staying vigilant—because when you’re living in a city that can lock you in, every sneeze counts.
