After a corona outbreak at the world’s largest iPhone factory in central China’s Zhengzhou, authorities have cordoned off the area around the factory. People are “not allowed to leave their homes – except to take corona tests and get emergency medical care,” officials at the industrial zone where Taiwanese iPhone maker Foxconn operates a factory said Wednesday.
The area will be “statically managed” for seven days. The industrial area’s more than 600,000 residents must be tested every day for the coronavirus, the local government said, warning it would “take firm action against violations”.
Numerous employees fled the company premises on foot
Last week, photos appeared on Chinese online services showing people fleeing the factory, which employs hundreds of thousands of workers. Workers complained online about poor working conditions and about having to flee the factory on foot to avoid the barriers.
Tens of thousands of employees would be infected
On Tuesday, the iPhone maker offered its employees bonuses to encourage them to stay. The company said on the WeChat network that it would pay out 400 yuan ($60) per day. The Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou employs more than 200,000 people. The Taiwanese company announced a “long battle” against the coronavirus, but did not provide details on the number of workers infected and quarantined. Rumors circulated on the internet about tens of thousands of infections.
China still has a very strict zero-covid policy. Lockdowns and business closures due to small corona outbreaks are putting pressure on the economy. Nevertheless, President Xi Jinping recently announced that he wanted to stick to the previous corona policy. According to official figures, more than 2,000 new cases have been reported across the country for the second day in a row.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
