City authorities in central China have hastily drawn up plans to isolate workers fleeing a COVID-19 outbreak at one of the largest iPhone assembly factories in China.
Videos shared online showed a stream of people leaving the site in the central city of Zhengzhou, and nearby villagers leaving out food and drinks for the workers.
Not all the videos could be verified.
The workers' exodus comes after reports that the factory operator, Foxconn, had placed a number of workers under quarantine following a COVID-19 outbreak in the facility.
It's not clear how many cases of COVID-19 have been identified, nor what restrictions are in place at the factory, one of the largest in China, that assembles products for Apple, including its latest iPhone 14 devices.
Foxconn did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but there are about 200,000 workers at its Zhengzhou complex.
On Sunday, the company, based in Taiwan, said that it would not stop workers from leaving.
Local media reported that Foxconn workers complained of poor food quality and a lack of medical care for those who tested positive, amid growing concerns that the infection could be spreading.
A day after videos circulated of workers leaving the factory, Foxconn and several local governments arranged transportation for employees who chose to return home.
Zhengzhou reported 167 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the seven days to October 29, up from 97 infections in the prior, seven-day period.
Cities near Zhengzhou — including Yuzhou, Changge and Qinyang — urged Foxconn workers to report to local authorities, in advance, before heading home.
Returning workers are to travel "point-to-point" in pre-arranged vehicles and are to be quarantined on arrival, authorities said, in letters on social media accounts addressed to Zhengzhou Foxconn workers.
Under China's strict zero-COVID policy, cities are mandated to act swiftly to quell any outbreaks, with measures that could include full-scale lockdowns.
Foxconn banned all dine-in at canteens and required workers to take their meals in their dormitories on October 19.
"The government agreed to resume dine-in meals to improve the convenience and satisfaction of employees' lives," Foxconn told Reuters in an emailed reply to queries on Sunday.
Local government said in their social media posts that Foxconn's message to its workers is to stay where they are until pick-up vehicles arrive.
"Please stay where you are, staff and vehicles will be in contact soon to serve you. Please stay safe," its message said.
"If you do need to return home, be sure to report to your local village (community) in advance, with a negative test," Xihua county government said in a statement.
"For safety reasons, after returning home, a seven days isolation plus three days of home health monitoring requirements will be implemented on everyone," the authority said, adding workers need to pay any quarantine costs.
ABC/wires
