Coronavirus: China reports 14 new infections as northeast city returns to partial lockdown

Shulan in Jilin province sees 11 cases linked to local woman, as nationwide total hits double figures for the first time this month

City’s residents told to stay home as public transport networks halted

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Wuhan on Sunday reported its first coronavirus infection since April 3. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:03pm, 10 May 2020Updated: 11:18pm, 10 May 2020

China on Sunday reported a double-digit rise in new coronavirus cases for the first time this month, as a city in the northeast of the country, which accounted for most of the new infections, raised its risk warning to the highest level and reintroduced a partial lockdown.

The National Health Commission (NHC) said 14 new cases were reported on the day – taking the total since the outbreak began to 82,901 – all but two of which were local transmissions.

There have been no reports of fatalities in mainland China for almost a month. The death toll stood at 4,633 on Sunday, with 148 people still receiving treatment.

Of the 12 domestic infections, one was in Wuhan, the city in which the now global health crisis was first identified. The case was the city’s first since April 3, and before being tested the patient had not shown any symptoms of Covid-19, the health commission said.

China has reported 82,901 infections since the outbreak began. Photo: Xinhua

The remaining 11 domestic cases were reported in Shulan, Jilin province, which borders North Korea, and where the authorities on Sunday raised the infection risk level to high, just a day after upgrading it from low to medium.