Detection of Omicron in Chinese Port Cities Sparks Fears of Supply Chain Disruptions in Africa

File image of the Lianyungang port in China's eastern Jiangsu province. STR / AFP

The recent detections of the highly contagious Omicron variant in several of China’s largest port cities is prompting renewed concerns among African traders of potentially painful supply chain disruptions.

Although only a few people have been found to be infected with Omicron in Tianjin and Dalian, both major port cities, China’s strict adherence to its “Zero COVID” policy means that large swathes of these large northeastern trading hubs have been subject to forced partial closures or other disruptions.

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