A second city in south-eastern China has seen a jump in Covid-19 cases in a Delta variant outbreak that started late last week.
The National Health Commission said that 59 new cases had been identified in the latest 24-hour period, more than doubling the total to 102.
All are in the Fujian province on China’s east coast. The port city of Xiamen has confirmed 33 cases in the past two days.
Another 59 cases have been found in Putian, about 90 miles north on the coast, where the outbreak was first detected.
Xiamen locked down affected neighbourhoods, closed entertainment and fitness venues and cancelled group activities, including those for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.
Long-distance bus service to other parts of the province have been suspended. China has largely stopped the spread of Covid but has sporadic outbreaks.
A Delta variant outbreak in July and August spread to several provinces, raising concerns about new and more contagious variants.
The infections come ahead of the week-long National Day holiday starting on October 1st a major tourist season.
"The Putian government is a big client of ours,” said a staff at a Xiamen building survey firm, declining to be named.
"About half of our company went to Putian last week. They are now isolated at home, while the rest have gone to do their Covid tests.”
Like Putian, Xiamen has locked down some areas of higher virus risk, cut offline classes at kindergartens, primary schools and high schools, closed public venues such as cinemas, gyms and bars, and told residents not to leave the city for non-essential reasons.
The first patient in the Xiamen cluster was a close contact of a case in Putian, Xiamen authorities said late on Monday.
Known for its mild weather and a laid-back lifestyle, Xiamen is a popular tourist destination domestically.
The Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport is also a key transportation hub linking the Yangtze and Pearl River Delta. About 60% of flights to and from Xiamen were cancelled on Tuesday, according to aviation data provider Variflight.
Additional reporting Reuters
