China reports surge of new Covid-19 cases in Guangzhou city, triggering flight cancellations

People line up to receive the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine outside a vaccination site in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China

China on Monday reported a sudden surge in Covid-19 infections in the country's south, with 18 new local cases on May 30 in the city of Guangzhou, causing a flurry of flight cancellation. Of the 27 new coronavirus cases reported by the national health authority in its daily updates, only 7 infections were imported, with the remainder originating in Guangdong province. Out of the 20 new locally confirmed patients on May 30, 18 were found in Guangzhou city and two in Foshan city, health authorities in Guangdong province said on Monday. As of 11:40 am, a total of 519 flights at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport were cancelled, accounting for 37% of total flights on Monday, according to aviation data provider Variflight.