BA.5.2 is a subtype of BA.5, which is already prevalent in the US and appears to escape antibody responses both among people previously infected with Covid-19 and those who have been fully vaccinated and boosted, according to with researchers. It is the first time the sub-variant has been reported in China, one of the last places in the world that still adheres to a strict zero-Covid policy. On Tuesday, Xi’an officials announced sweeping restrictions that would shut down parts of the city for seven days starting Wednesday. Entertainment, sports and cultural venues, including bars, cinemas, gyms, libraries and museums, were closed. Restaurants and large gatherings, from weddings to conferences, were suspended. All places of worship were closed and religious activities were banned, city official Zhang Xuedong said at a news conference on Tuesday. Kindergartens and primary and secondary schools were ordered to start summer vacations early, while universities were told to seal their campuses, according to Zhang. Authorities also sealed off nine residential neighborhoods designated as “high-risk areas,” barring residents from leaving their communities. “The seven-day temporary control measures are intended to calm society as much as possible, reduce mobility…and the risk of cross-infection,” Zhang said. The announcement caused an uproar among some Xi’an residents, many of whom recalled the chaos of the city’s strict month-long lockdown between December and January. During this city-wide lockdown, a steady stream of complaints about food shortages, as well as heartbreaking scenes of patients being denied medical care – including heavily pregnant women – caused shock and anger across the country. On Tuesday night, photos and videos posted by Xi’an residents on social media showed huge crowds of travelers — many with large bags and suitcases — outside the train station, rushing to leave the city. In the city’s Changan district, residents were ordered to undergo mass Covid testing from midnight to 6am on Wednesday. They are only allowed to leave their community, enter public spaces and use public transport after taking the test, according to a government statement. As of Wednesday, Xi’an has reported 29 local infections. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, authorities on Tuesday ordered mass testing for 12 of its 16 districts in response to a handful of new infections linked to a karaoke bar. Although the financial hub lifted a months-long lockdown on its more than 25 million residents in June, it is still subject to Covid restrictions from frequent testing to targeted lockdowns. The city has reported 24 locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 since Wednesday.
