CHINA’S ANTIVIRUS STEPS MAY HAVE GLOBAL IMPACT
More than 253,000 coronavirus cases have been found in China in the past three weeks and the daily average is rising, the government said Tuesday, adding to pressure on officials who are trying to reduce economic damage by easing controls that confine millions of people to their homes. The Communist Party promised this month to reduce disruptions from its “zeroCOVID” strategy by making controls more flexible. But the latest wave of outbreaks has prompted cities to close off populous districts, shut stores and caused factories to isolate workforces. That has fueled fears a downturn in Chinese business activity might hurt already weak global trade.