Chengdu, the capital of the south-western province of Sichuan, was sealed on September 1 after Covid cases were detected. EPA
Chengdu, the capital of the south-western province of Sichuan, was sealed on September 1 after Covid cases were detected. EPA
Chengdu, the capital of the south-western province of Sichuan, was sealed on September 1 after Covid cases were detected. EPA
Chengdu, the capital of the south-western province of Sichuan, was sealed on September 1 after Covid cases were detected. EPA

China extends Covid lockdown in Chengdu city


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China extended a lockdown in most of Chengdu on Thursday, to stem infections among the megacity's 21 million residents.

The capital of the south-western province of Sichuan, which has recently battled heatwaves, power cuts and an earthquake, was sealed on September 1 after cases were detected.

It was the largest Chinese city to be hit with curbs since Shanghai earlier in the year.

While the lockdown was expected to be lifted on Wednesday, officials said late in the day the virus still posed a risk in some areas.

Of the city's 21.2 million residents, 16 million are under lockdown.

Chengdu has mostly been reporting fewer than 200 new infections a day, Reuters reported, citing authorities.

On Thursday, 116 new local infections were reported, more than half of which showed no symptoms, AFP reported, citing figures from the provincial health commission.

Residents of areas under lockdown will be tested every day and those who test positive will be quarantined. Those in areas deemed high-risk are not allowed out of their homes.

Some residents were unable to flee when a strong earthquake in a nearby part of Sichuan reverberated through the city earlier this week.

Businesses in Chengdu have been forced to close, with Swedish carmaker Volvo last week suspending production at a plant in the city that employs about 3,000 people.

China reported 1,334 new domestic infections on Thursday, the majority of which were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said.

Earthquake toll

Meanwhile, the death toll from the earthquake that struck south-west China rose to 82, state media reported on Thursday.

The magnitude 6.6 quake had hit about 43 kilometres south-east of the city of Kangding in Sichuan province at a depth of 10 kilometres on Monday.

State broadcaster CCTV said that 46 people died in Ganzi prefecture near the epicentre, while 36 deaths were reported in neighbouring Ya'an city.

More than 270 were injured, while the number of missing remained at 35, CCTV reported.

The national weather service said moderate rain would continue in the affected earthquake area on Thursday and Friday, with some localised heavy showers.

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Name: Carzaty

Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar

Launched: 2017

Employees: 22

Based: Dubai and Muscat

Sector: Automobile retail

Funding to date: $5.5 million

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Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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Favourite food: Seafood

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Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.

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Updated: September 08, 2022, 7:46 AM