Shanghai Disneyland closes as virus rises, Shenzhen reopens
ByThe Associated Press
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors walk at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen)
ByThe Associated Press
BEIJING — (AP) — Shanghai Disneyland closed Monday as China’s most populous city tried to contain its biggest coronavirus flareup in two years, while the southern business center of Shenzhen allowed shops and offices to reopen after a weeklong closure.
Meanwhile, the cities of Changchun and Jilin in the northeast began another round of citywide virus testing following a surge in infections. Jilin tightened anti-disease curbs, ordering its 2 million residents to stay home.
China’s case numbers in its latest infection wave are low compared with other major countries, but authorities are enforcing a “zero tolerance” strategy that has suspended access to some major cities.
The government reported 2,027 new cases on the Chinese mainland on Sunday, up from the previous day’s 1,737. That included 1,542 infections in Jilin province, where Changchun and Jilin are located.
Shanghai, which has a population of 24 million, has avoided a citywide shutdown but appealed to the public to stay home. Bus service into the city has been suspended and visitors are required to show a negative virus test.
Disney Co. said Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park were closed until further notice.
On Monday, Shanghai reported 24 new cases. The city earlier suspended access to two residential areas and carried out mass testing at dozens of others.
Shanghai residents posted photos on the internet showing empty streets and subways during what usually is a crowded Monday morning rush hour.
The government of Shenzhen, a finance and technology center that abuts Hong Kong, announced businesses and government offices were allowed to reopen Monday while authorities took steps to try to prevent a resurgence of virus cases. Bus and subway service, which had been suspended, was restarted.
Last week, the city of 17.5 million shut down all businesses except those that supply food and other necessities and told the public to stay home following a spike in cases.
Shenzhen is home to some of China’s biggest companies including telecom equipment maker Huawei, electric car brand BYD Auto and Tencent, operator of the popular WeChat message service.
The shutdowns prompted concern trade might be disrupted if ports near Shanghai and Shenzhen that are among the world’s busiest are affected. The Shanghai port moved paperwork functions online but said cargo was moving normally. The smaller port of Lianyungang barred foreign sailors from coming ashore.
The government said last week it was trying to fine-tune anti-disease controls to reduce their economic cost and impact on society.
Tangshan, a steel industry center east of Beijing, the Chinese capital, imposed controls Sunday that allow only emergency vehicles to move around the city after seven cases were found, state media reported.
Authorities in Beijing were investigating a duck restaurant where four employees contracted the virus. State media said owners of the Yu Le Xuan restaurant were accused of failing to register the identities of 477 diners as required over five days, making it harder to trace potential contacts.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown A security worker, wearing a face mask, stands guard at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened Monday, May 11, 2020. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors take a selfie in front of Donald Duck at the Disneyland theme park as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020, in Shanghai, China. Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Chen Si) (Chen Si)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Park staff wearing face masks give a welcoming wave at the Disneyland theme park as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020, in Shanghai, China. Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Chen Si) (Chen Si)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Theme park staff hold a placard to raise the awareness for social distancing, at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Staff dance and play musical instruments at the Disneyland theme park as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020, in Shanghai, China. Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Chen Si) (Chen Si)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors, wearing face masks, walk at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020. Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown The Disneyland theme park is seen in Shanghai as the theme park reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Joe Schott, front right, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, speaks during its reopening ceremony after the coronavirus closure in Shanghai, China, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions(AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Media and visitors tour Disneyland in Shanghai as the theme park reopened Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors, wearing face masks, take photos at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020. Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Chen Si) (Chen Si)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors, wearing face masks, wait to enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Joe Schott, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, center right, stands with staff and characters park staff as the park reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020, in Shanghai, China. Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Chen Si) (Chen Si)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Joe Schott, center, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, speaks, along with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, during its reopening ceremony after the coronavirus closure in Shanghai, China, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Disney characters and staff welcome visitors at the Disneyland theme park as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020, in Shanghai, China. Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Chen Si) (Chen Si)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown A young visitor, wearing face masks, waves as she enters the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors, wearing face masks, enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors, wearing face masks, wait to enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors walk around the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visitors wearing face masks streamed into Shanghai Disneyland as Chinaâs most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Mickey and Minnie Mouse take the stage in a reopening ceremony for Disneyland in Shanghai as the theme park reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors walk at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors walk at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen)
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland reopens after coronavirus shutdown Visitors, wearing face masks, enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil)
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