Chinese Officials Authorized to Seize Personal Property to Counter Deepening Coronavirus Crisis

A employee wears a protective mask whilst carrying vegetables from trucks at a hospital in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 10, 2020. Getty Images

Officials from two coronavirus-stricken cities in southern China have been authorized to confiscate private property in an effort to combat the outbreak that has pushed the country’s health system to its limits.

According to a notice posted on Feb. 11, city and district-level authorities in Guangzhou city can, “when necessary,” “temporarily expropriate” houses, venues, vehicles, and other resources from companies or individuals.