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In a grim turn of events, a new outbreak of COVID-19 has appeared in two of China’s largest cities, resulting in fresh lockdowns and a sobering reminder that the global pandemic is still very much in effect.

Authorities in Shanghai and Shenzhen have imposed restrictions on travel for residents after daily cases spiked over the past week, The New York Times reports. China reported 3,122 cases on Sunday, compared to 1,524 on Saturday and 1,100 on Friday. 

The lockdown is slated to last seven days, during which nonessential workers must stay home. Public transit such as trains and buses have been paused. Grocery stores and medical services will continue. Adults are also required to take three PCR tests during the lockdown period. 

Shenzhen is one of the world's most significant tech hubs, and is home to prominent manufacturers including Foxconn, which produces products for Apple and Samsung. Chinese tech companies such as Huawei and Tencent are also based in the city. 

In other words, the latest uptick is likely to further disrupt the already strained global supply chain, driving prices for many tech products up even higher than they are now. 

The outbreak and its resulting lockdowns throw cold water on the widespread belief that the COVID pandemic is over. While treatments and vaccines have changed the dynamics of the fight against COVID, with cities and states all throughout the world rolling back their most stringent measures to protect public health, the virus is still prevalent — even in places that have the most draconian COVID restrictions.  

Hopefully, we can avoid the worst impacts of the coronavirus that we have already experienced in the past two plus years of the pandemic. If the latest lockdowns in China are any indication, though, we’re still not out of the woods yet.