New COVID 19 Deaths Confirmed

Five-day lockdown decleared

Chinese health authorities in Beijing reported 962 new infections, students in schools in several districts began studying online after officials called for residents in some of its hardest-hit areas to stay home.

Health authorities in the capital also reported two COVID-19-related deaths after announcing the first death in over six months the previous day. Medical experts outside China are widely sceptical of the country’s official COVID death toll of fewer than 5,300 given international experience with the virus, although Beijing’s harsh restrictions have kept cases and deaths much lower than elsewhere.

COVID cases are rising across China, with flare-ups in regions ranging from Zhengzhou in central Henan province to Chongqing in the southwest.

Chinese health authorities reported 26,824 local cases for Sunday, close to the country’s peak in April.