China reports surge of new COVID-19 cases in Guangzhou city

China has reported a surge of new COVID-19 cases in the country’s Guangzhou city, with 18 new local cases, causing a flurry of flight cancellation on Monday.

Health authorities in Guangdong province said on Monday, out of the 20 new locally confirmed patients on May 30, 18 were found in Guangzhou city and two in Foshan city.

Only 7 infections out of the daily update were imported, with the remainder originating in Guangdong province.

According to aviation data provider Variflight, a total of 519 flights at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport were cancelled, accounting for 37% of total flights.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which carried 43.8 million passengers last year, was the world’s busiest airport in the midst of a global pandemic.

Guangzhou government earlier ordered residents on five streets in the city’s Liwan district to remain at home and suspended non-essential activities, while entertainment venues and markets were closed.

The deputy director at the city’s municipal health commission, Chen Bin said, “Recent infections in the city were contracted with a fast-spreading virus strain detected in India.”

China also reported 19 new asymptomatic infections, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, on May 30, compared with 22 a day earlier.

China had a total of 91,099 confirmed COVID-19 cases, while its death toll remained unchanged at 4,636 as of May 30.

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Kamila/Reuters