China places citizens under lockdown as COVID-19 cases rise

T he Chinese government has placed more than 20 million people in lockdown as renewed outbreaks have led to the highest number of daily new cases in months. China's National Health Commission has confirmed hundreds of new COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, most of which have been concentrated in Hebei province, the region closest to the capital city, Beijing. Since Jan. 2, more than 600 new positive cases have been confirmed in Hebei, according to the region's health commission. Health authorities in China have confirmed roughly 59 new daily cases on average over the past week, the highest rate since…