China imposes domestic travel curbs to stem Covid surge

China has imposed stricter domestic travel restrictions as its worst Covid-19 outbreak in over a year continues to spread, with 400 cases now reported since 20 July.

A total of 17 provinces have reported positive infections, while 144 regions have been upgraded to medium- and high-risk areas, the most since China went through its worst period of Covid-19 last year, an official from the National Health Commission (NHC) said today. The outbreak started in Nanjing in Jiangsu province and Zhengzhou in Henan province last month.

Road travel is also expected to fall as areas with Covid-19 cases have been instructed halt all travel in and out and suspend cross-city bus, taxi and hitchhiking services to medium- and high-risk regions, an official from the transport ministry said today.

Beijing's local healthcare commission has advised residents not to go out if there is no urgent need and imposed a ban on travellers departing from areas classified as medium or high risk, ordering hotels and travel agents to also cancel travel to these areas. Beijing has also reported new cases this week.

Jiangsu province, one of the major epicentres of the latest outbreak, has closed entrances and exits at 83 highway tolling gates, according to the transport ministry today. Nanjing airport has banned all passenger flights since the outbreak on 20 July. Road fuel retailers have also seen sales fall since the outbreak, pushing down prices and creating more pressure to export.