China Puts City Of 4 Million Under Lockdown Due To Spike In Covid Cases

Residents have been told not to leave homes except in emergencies, as China pushes Lanzhou into lockdown due to six new cases reported in the city and 29 new cases reported overall across the nation.

China placed a city of four million under lockdown on Tuesday in a bid to stamp out a domestic coronavirus spike, with residents told not to leave home except in emergencies.

Beijing imposed strict border controls after the virus was first detected in China in late 2019, slowing the number of cases to a trickle and allowing the economy to bounce back.

But it has stamped down hard on any local outbreaks and Tuesday's fresh restrictions came as China reported 29 new domestic infections -- including six cases in Lanzhou, the provincial capital of northwestern province Gansu.

Residents of Lanzhou will be required to stay at home, authorities said in a statement.