China’s COVID-19 infections have rapidly spread to the countryside, and small towns, raising concern about China’s Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 22, when a large number of holiday travelers are expected as people return to their hometowns for the celebration.
While hospitals in big cities were overwhelmed by a sudden onslaught of COVID-19 patients in December, the situation outside the cities is even more worrisome because of the large rural population and a lack of medical resources.