A staff member collects sample for testing at Tongji community in Shulan, northeast China's Jilin Province, May 17, 2020. Jilin Province reported three new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, local health authorities said Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

 
Northeast China's Jilin Province has suspended gatherings and closed cultural or entertainment venues province-wide on Sunday after the province reported 12 confirmed and 29 asymptomatic cases on Saturday, bringing the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 206 in the province.

Tonghua in Jilin has adopted a de facto lockdown and rolled out massive coronavirus testing to curb the spread of the virus.

According to a circular, entertainment venues such as movie theatres, dance halls, chess and card rooms, internet cafes, baths and bars, as well as public cultural venues such as museums, libraries, stadiums and community cultural activity centers will be temporarily shut down.

It will temporarily stop holding artistic performance, lantern fairs, temple fairs and other gatherings for cultural activities. Marketing activities, after-school education, labor skills training, large group religious services, and other gatherings, according to provincial authorities.

The government is urging couples to delay their weddings and hold only a simple ceremony for funerals. People are being encouraged to have their Lunar New Year’s Eve dinner at home during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays.

Global Times