China’s ‘iphone city’ tightens Covid rules

China has ordered six million people into lockdown in a city where violent protests broke out at an iphone factory over Covid isolation policies and working conditions. Hundreds of workers took to the streets around the vast iphone factory in Zhengzhou on Wednesday, confronting hazmatclad personnel wielding batons.

In the wake of the unrest, Zhengzhou authorities ordered mass testing and an effective lockdown for several districts in the central Chinese city starting from Friday. City centre residents cannot leave the area unless they have a negative Covid test and permission from local authorities, and are advised not to leave their homes.