The restrictions came into effect on Saturday morning as authorities tried to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the city on the tropical island of Hainan. There were 229 confirmed cases on Friday and an additional 129 on Saturday.
China’s ruling Communist Party is steadfastly sticking to a “zero COVID-19” approach that is increasingly at odds with the rest of the world. A recent outbreak in Shanghai spread so widely that authorities shut down the entire city, China’s largest, for two months, trapping millions of people and dealing a blow to the national economy.
Railway authorities banned all ticket sales in Sanya while all flights were also canceled on Saturday.
Tourists who want to leave Sanya must test negative for the coronavirus in five PCR tests over a seven-day period, authorities said.
Meanwhile, hotels will offer guests a 50 percent discount during the lockdown period, a city official said during a news briefing.
The lockdown comes during a peak tourist season in Sanya, which is famous for its resorts and beaches.
