China imposes lockdown to battle worst COVID-19 outbreak in two years, Apple suppliers halt operations

• Shenzhen’s growing number of COVID-19 cases are mostly linked to Hong Kong

• Foxconn has suspended operations due to omicron outbreak

China has placed about 17.5 million residents of the southern city of Shenzhen under lockdown for at least a week until March 20, as the number of cases doubled nationwide.

The country has reported nearly 3,400 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, the worst outbreak since the early days of the pandemic.