A new wave of lockdowns has been imposed in parts of China with the emergence of new cases of COVID-19 infections.
The authorities imposed a lockdown in a northern county and travel restrictions in other areas as the COVID-19 outbreak spread to 11 provinces in a week.
Authorities in Ejin in the Inner Mongolia region asked more than 35,000 residents to stay at home and warned of civil and criminal action for disobeying the order.
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These measures come as the Chinese capital prepares to host the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.
While several housing compounds in Beijing have been locked down, organizers indefinitely postponed a marathon in which 30,000 runners were expected to take part.
One more marathon in the central city of Wuhan where the corona virus was first identified in late 2019 was also canceled.
The residents of Beijing have been told to avoid travel out of the capital while people entering the city from areas with COVID-19 cases have been asked to submit a negative test.
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According to health officials, cases are expected to rise as testing is increased to contain the outbreak linked to a group of domestic tourists that travelled across China.
Inter-provincial tour groups in five areas where cases have been detected including Beijing were suspended.
The cities including Gansu’s provincial capital Lanzhou and parts of Inner Mongolia have suspended bus and taxi services and closed tourist sites. (AW)
