Chinese city imposes partial lockdown to curb community COVID-19 spread

A partial lockdown has been imposed in Chinese city Jilin to curb the surge in community cases of coronavirus.

Restrictions have been imposed on the transport and gatherings in the city amid fears of a new wave of COVID-19 infections after a cluster outbreak was reported.

The city located in northeast China, confirmed seven new cases on Tuesday, including an asymptomatic patient.

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That brought the total to 21 community cases, with two asymptomatic patients, since the first case in the cluster was reported a week ago.

As a result, train and long-distance bus services were stopped, gatherings banned and indoor public venues were closed.

''The current outbreak is very serious and complex and poses a major risk of further spread,'' Gai Dongping, the vice-mayor of Jilin, told reporters in an online briefing on Wednesday.

''In order to prevent and stem the spread of the epidemic, the Jilin epidemic prevention and control group has decided to implement control measures in the urban area of Jilin,'' she said.

All 21 community cases reported in the past week, plus one case in neighbouring Liaoning province, are linked to a 45-year-old woman who is a laundry worker for the public security bureau in nearby Shulan, a small city in Jilin province. She tested positive for Covid-19 on May 7.