China tightens controls as more virus cases reported

The government reported 588 new confirmed cases and no death in the 24 hours through to midnight on Friday

China on Friday ordered a lockdown of the nine million residents of the north-eastern city of Changchun (Chinatopix via AP)

China instituted new Covid-19 restrictions on Saturday that included urging the public not to leave Beijing and closing schools in Shanghai while the leader of Hong Kong warned that its coronavirus outbreak has yet to reach its peak.

In Beijing, where five new cases were reported, part of the Yosemite housing complex in the north-eastern district of Shunyi was locked down after an infection was found there. Residents were ordered to undergo testing.