China locks down Xi'an as Covid-19 numbers surge

The Chinese city of Xi'an tightened its lockdown measures and launched a new round of mass virus tests after daily coronavirus infections went beyond 150 three days in a row.

Authorities recorded 175 local cases on Monday, as it grapples with an outbreak that has pushed China's daily cases to record highs since early last year.

The 175 infections reported in Xi'an, in the northwestern Shaanxi province, were up from 162 on Sunday, and 158 the day before, according to a government notice issued Tuesday, bringing the total number of local cases to 810 in the city.

Authorities imposed lockdown on the 13-million residents in Xi'an on Dec. 23 as they attempted to curb the spread.

Households were allowed to send one member to shop for necessities every two days when the lockdown was imposed last week, but starting from Monday residents have been barred from leaving houses except to take virus tests.

A new round of mass virus tests was launched on Monday for all residents. It is the fifth mandatory test since Dec. 19.

Authorities have also suspended most of passenger trains and all domestic flights coming into and leaving Xi'an, according to the state broadcaster CCTV.

China is one of the few remaining countries with a "zero case" policy, with authorities implementing mass-testing when infections are found in the community.

Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi province, famed for the Terracotta Warriors and other imperial relics.