China places 17 million residents of Shenzhen under lockdown

Hong Kong's neighbouring city Shenzhen will be put under a citywide lockdown starting today, Monday, the local government announced after it reported 66 new coronavirus cases. The city with a population of around 17 million, across the border from Covid-hit Hong Kong, has told residents to get tested three times between March 14 and 20.

All public transport, including the metro, will be called to a stop. Our colleagues are working from home, with minimal impact on operations. Currently, all terminals in Shenzhen are running normally. However, truck drivers must provide negative test reports, which may lead to delays.

China, where the virus was first detected in late 2019, has maintained a strict 'zero-Covid' policy enforced with swift lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing.