As some parts of China reopen, others are imposing new Covid-related restrictions, reflecting the challenge officials face in controlling the outbreak.
Dozens of local Chinese officials have lost their jobs or received punishments after failing to prevent the latest spike of cases.
The northern province of Jilin reported Friday the first two deaths in the latest Covid wave, which stems primarily from the highly transmissible omicron variant. The number of new cases and deaths is still low compared with other major countries.On the economic front, regions are affected by business disruptions and uncertainty, even if stricter Covid controls don't necessarily halt production outright.
Shipping giant Maersk said late last week Covid testing requirements for truck drivers and stricter road control between Shenzhen and nearby cities means trucking services in the area will likely"be severely impacted by 40%." That's up from the company's assessment a few days earlier of a 30% impact.