Chinese city plans 250,000 quarantine beds to fight virus

By JOE McDONALD
Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — China’s southern metropolis of Guangzhou plans to build quarantine facilities with almost 250,000 beds to help fight surging coronavirus outbreaks. The announcement comes as the national government tries to reduce the impact of anti-disease controls that have confined millions of people to their homes. Guangzhou reported almost 10,000 new cases in the past 24 hours. It is the biggest of a series of hot spots across China with outbreaks since early October. China’s infection numbers are low compared with the United States and other major countries, but the ruling Communist Party’s “zero COVID” strategy aims to isolate every case. Repeated closures of neighborhoods, schools and businesses are fueling public frustration and clashes with health workers.