China's lockdowns due to Covid surge could threaten half of economy

Widespread lockdowns in China akin to the measures just taken in the southern technology hub of Shenzhen could affect half of the country’s gross domestic product.

Authorities on Sunday placed Shenzhen’s 17.5 million residents into lockdown for at least a week amid a surge of Covid-19 infections in the city. Shanghai suspended in-person classes and shut intercity bus services, while the northeast industrial center of Changchun, in Jilin -- a city of about 9 million people and accounting for about 11% of China’s total annual car output in 2020 -- was locked down last week.

As cases jump