China builds massive COVID-19 quarantine camp as outbreak continues

China is rushing to build a massive quarantine camp that can house more than 4,000 people, after a new outbreak of COVID-19 that has left tens of millions of people under strict lockdown.

The quarantine camp is located on the outskirts of Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital of Hebei province, which surrounds the country’s capital, Beijing.

China has largely contained the spread of the virus, with much of the country returning to normal.

However, a sudden rise in cases has alarmed officials and raised concerns ahead of the lunar New Year, the county’s most important annual festival, during which hundreds of millions of people are expected to travel to visit family members

Authorities began construction of the new quarantine camp on January 13 and the first section of the camp is now complete and ready for use, while construction continues on the second phase.