Coronavirus: Spike in Beijing as 27 neighbourhoods go on lockdown

Millions of people in Beijing are living under renewed restrictions, as a spike in virus cases continues.

The city reported another 31 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 137 in the past week.

Before the recent spike, the Chinese capital had gone 57 days without a locally-transmitted case.

The outbreak is believed to have started in the massive Xinfandi food market that supplies 80% of the city’s meat and vegetables.

At least 27 neighbourhoods have been classed as medium risk and one neighbourhood, near the market, is high risk.

People in medium or high-risk areas cannot leave the city. People in low-risk areas can leave, but need to test negative first.

More than 1,200 flights have been cancelled to and from the city and railway services have been reduced until at least 9 July. Primary school, middle school, and college classes are suspended, sports teams cannot play, and swimming pools and gyms are closed