Two municipal CC&TSPMs in Zhejiang released notices to halt face-to-face gatherings to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak.
On December 7, Shaoxing CC&TSPM announced the suspension of the opening of places of worship and of any religious gatherings from the next day on due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Zhuji CC&TSPM also issued a notice on the following day, stating that all services and gatherings would cease from that day onwards, in accordance with pandemic prevention and control requirements.
Believers were reminded to attend the virtual Sunday services, and not to leave the city unless necessary, to follow personal protection measures, such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and not gathering together.
Zhejiang reported 173 local confirmed cases between December 6-12, marking the first domestic cluster outbreak in the province this year, according to Reuters. On December 13, 45 newly confirmed cases were found, including two in Hangzhou, four in Ningbo, 38 in Shaoxing, and one imported case from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province said.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
