One Visitor Sparks Lockdown For 600,000 In Henan

A county in Henan province with around 600,000 residents has gone into lockdown after a woman who visited the area tested positive for the coronavirus, underscoring concerns over a second wave of domestic infections on the mainland.

The tightening comes as the mainland reported 35 new confirmed cases on Thursday, drastically down from the peak of the crisis.

But the new cases were all imported, bringing the tally of such cases to 841 and adding to fears about infections brought in from overseas.

Officials in Henan's Jia county said in a social media post that they were tightening restrictions on villages and residential compounds, and were not allowing people to enter or leave their homes without the relevant authorisation.

Employees will also need permits issued by their companies in order to go to work, and vehicles can only be used on alternate days depending on their number plates.

The latest rules were introduced after a woman who visited Jia county tested positive for the deadly virus following interactions with an asymptomatic doctor during her visit.

Although Beijing says new cases have dwindled on the mainland, including in Hubei province at the epicentre of the outbreak, concerns have been growing over a fresh wave of infections from overseas or asymptomatic carriers.

Beijing has in recent weeks started publishing data on a growing number of imported cases -- mostly returning Chinese nationals -- and on Wednesday started releasing figures on asymptomatic cases.

On Thursday, the National Health Commission reported 55 new asymptomatic patients, and it now has 1,075 asymptomatic cases remaining under medical observation. Of this number, 226 were imported.

Concerns over a resurgence of the deadly pathogen in China have led to a choppy return to regular life, with some cities re-introducing restrictions after easing rules.

Top tourist attractions in Shanghai closed just weeks after reopening, including the Shanghai Tower -- the world's second-tallest building -- and indoor attractions such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and Madam Tussauds.

Over the weekend, mainland media reported that Sichuan province shut entertainment spots such as karaoke venues again as well, after a brief reopening. (AFP)