World

108 Million People in China placed in Lockdown After 34 New Coronavirus Cases Detected

TOPSHOT - A man being tested for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus reacts as a medical worker takes a swab sample in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on April 16, 2020. - China has largely brought the coronavirus under control within its borders since the outbreak first emerged in the city of Wuhan late last year. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)

The Chinese province of Jilin has placed about 108 million people into lockdown on Monday after roughly 34 new cases of coronavirus and one death were identified in the region over the past few weeks, according to a new report from Bloomberg News. The new lockdown demonstrates widespread fear in China of witnessing another uncontrollable outbreak like the one in Wuhan that set off the global COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019.

Government officials in the cities of Jilin, which is situated in China’s northeast, have stopped buses and trains from leaving and entering the province and schools have been closed. Three new cases were reported on Saturday and two new cases were reported on Sunday. The entire province of Jilin has just 127 total confirmed cases of covid-19 and two deaths, largely a credit to imposing strict lockdown measures in February and March, just like Wuhan.