BEIJING: Mainland China reported five new confirmed COVID-19 cases for May 16, down from eight the previous day, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement on Sunday.
Two of the five confirmed cases were so-called imported infections, while three were locally transmitted in northeastern Chinese city of Jilin.
The number of confirmed cases in the mainland now stands at 82,947 and the death toll at 4,634.
The three domestically-transmitted cases are related to a district in Jilin city called Fengman, which has been classified by Chinese officials as a high-risk area for COVID-19.
Heightened disease control measures in the district include only allowing only one person from a family to go out and purchase daily necessities each day, according to the district’s official post on WeChat.
Residents were advised not to leave the city and any who do need to leave must provide a negative test result taken within the previous 48 hours.
Jilin is the second largest city of Jilin province, which borders North Korea and Russia. It temporarily suspended passenger train services last Wednesday.
The number of China’s new asymptomatic cases of the coronavirus fell to 12 from 13, the NHC said.
China reports five new coronavirus cases
https://arab.news/g2gzk
China reports five new coronavirus cases
- Two of the five confirmed cases were so-called imported infections
Indonesian army deploys snipers on key highway to safeguard Eid exodus
- Nearly 144m Indonesians to take part in annual homecoming rush
- About 161,000 security personnel deployed to oversee their safety
JAKARTA: Indonesia's military and police will deploy special task forces, including snipers, to the main travel route in Sumatra to manage security during the annual homecoming rush, when millions of people will commute between cities and islands to observe Eid Al-Fitr with family.
Locally known as “mudik,” the Eid exodus is one of the world’s greatest seasonal migrations, with travelers braving enormous traffic jams, thousands of kilometers, and exhaustion to make it home for the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
Out of nearly 144 million Indonesians, or over half of the total population, who are expected to take part in the annual tradition this year, millions will take the highways of South Sumatra province, where security measures are heightened to oversee the safety of the travelers.
“We are deploying snipers to support security operations during the 2026 Eid homecoming period,” Maj. Gen. Ujang Darwis, chief of the military command in the province, told reporters.
“The National Police will be working together with us to ensure safety for the public, our officers will strengthen security throughout the exodus route and anticipate any potential crime.”
The snipers will be located along the Kayu Agung-Palembang-Betung highway, a key route for travelers to reach Sumatran cities from Lampung, a transit province connecting Java and Sumatra islands, he added.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has said that South Sumatra has “a strategic position” as the “main hub for connectivity” on Sumatra island.
Across Indonesia, 161,000 security personnel are being deployed in 2,746 locations in the country as part of national security measures during the annual homecoming period, which will officially start on Friday.
More than 76 million Indonesians are expected to travel with private cars, while 24 million will be using motorbikes and another 23 million are traveling by bus.
Authorities are expecting the exodus to peak next Wednesday, when almost 22 million people will hit the road early to reach their hometowns before the first day of Eid.
Heightened security measures along Indonesia’s main roads will be in place until the end of the long holiday on March 25.
