2LT International News

LHASA: Tibet: After barely reporting any COVID-19 patients for more than two years, the autonomous Chinese region of Tibet is facing a surge in new infections and has imposed restrictions in its second largest city.

In January 2020, Tibet reported one infection with confirmed symptoms, but it did not announce any cases for over 900 days, the best record among Chinese regions and among provinces operating under China’s “dynamic zero COVID” policy.

This week, the regional capital city, Lhasa, disclosed one symptomatic patient and seventeen asymptomatic cases, leading it to close several buildings.

Local government-backed media said many of those 18 cases, which initially tested positive, had entered Lhasa from the city of Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, earlier this month.

Shigatse, which has a population of about 800,000, has imposed a three-day quarantine. This week, local media said people are banned from entering or leaving the city, and various public venues and group events have been suspended.

Also this week, Ngari prefecture said the town of Burang had discovered four infected travelers from Shigatse.