China reports highest number of Covid-19 cases in over a month
- The 38 domestically transmitted cases centred on Inner Mongolia and Gansu and were the largest number seen since September 20
- The local authorities have stepped up their alert levels and urged National Day tourists who visited the affected areas to get tested
The latest infections, including one asymptomatic case, were mainly concentrated in the north and northwest of the country.
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The National Health Commission also announced another 12 new imported cases on Friday, bringing the total Covid-19 infections on the mainland to 50, none of which were fatal.
Under the national policy of zero tolerance for domestic infections, local governments in Inner Mongolia and Gansu, the two worst affected areas, have raised their alert levels and introduced new measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Other new cases were reported in Beijing, Ningxia and Yunnan.
The previous day Inner Mongolia and Gansu reported 11 and nine new cases respectively.
People living in cities and provinces designated as high risk by the NHC must now take compulsory Covid-19 tests.
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There were 17 new local cases in Gansu, more than 40 per cent of the total infections, with 13 being confirmed in Lanzhou, the provincial capital. Another 11 new cases were found in two bordering prefectures – Alxa League and Xilingol League – in Inner Mongolia.
The authorities in Gansu and Inner Mongolia have issued a travel advisory, requesting all tourists who visited the worst infected areas during the National Day holiday at the start of the month to report to local health units and get tested.
Alerts are now in force in cities and districts across the country — including parts of Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Beijing, Guizhou and Ningxia — with travel curbs being imposed and sporting and cultural events suspended depending on the severity of the alert.
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Officials from Gansu provincial health commission said on Friday they had imposed comprehensive lockdowns and checks in the five worst hit cities, with all high school and university classes being suspended.
