On Monday, Beijing and several other major Chinese cities reported record COVID-19 infections, as authorities faced increased pressure to contain outbreaks quickly while also attempting to minimise the impact on people’s lives and economic activity. 16,072 new locally transmitted cases were reported nationwide, up from 14,761 on Sunday.
Here are the most recent Covid updates in China:
1. China recorded the most Covid cases on Monday since April 25, when Shanghai was dealing with its most serious outbreak.
2. Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Zhengzhou all had their worst day of the year so far.
3. China updated its Covid rules last week in the most significant easing of restrictions to date, describing the changes as a “optimization” of its measures.
4. China has reduced the length of quarantine for close contacts, but individuals, neighbourhoods, and public spaces may still be subject to lockdowns to prevent outbreaks from spreading.
5. Areas deemed at risk of wider outbreaks are now classified as “high” or “low,” with no “medium” category.
6. Beijing reported 407 cases on Monday, up from 235 the day before.
7. In the southern city of Guangzhou, new locally transmitted cases reached a new high of 4,065, up from 3,653 the previous day.
8. Zhengzhou, a major manufacturing hub in central China, reported 2,981 new infections compared to 2,642 the day before.
9. In Chongqing, a southwestern city of more than 32 million people, the number of cases increased to 2,297 from 1,820 the previous day.