Curbs in Shanghai, Beijing as virus cases across China rise

There were two new deaths attributed to Covid-19 by health officials, compared with three over the weekend, which were China's first since May.

Beijing shut parks and museums on Tuesday and Shanghai tightened rules for people entering the city as China grapples with a spike in Covid-19 cases that has deepened concern about the economy and dimmed hopes for a quick reopening.

China reported 28,127 new local Covid-19 cases nationally for Monday, nearing its daily infection peak in April, with infections in the southern city of Guangzhou and the south-western municipality of Chongqing accounting for about half of the total.

In Beijing, cases are hitting fresh highs every day, prompting calls from the city's government for more residents to stay put and show proof of a negative Covid-19 test, not more than 48 hours old, to enter public buildings.

In Shanghai, the government said people who have stayed in the city for less than five days would not be allowed to enter public places such as restaurants, bars, shopping malls, supermarkets and indoor gyms from Nov 24. They can still go to offices and use public transport, it said.

Elsewhere in China, more cities resumed mass testing for Covid-19.