China records nearly 3,400 daily virus cases in worst outbreak in two years; city of Jilin partially locked down due to high cases

Residents line up for coronavirus screening during the Covid-19 lockdown in Changchun in northeastern China's Jilin province Saturday, March 12, 2022. China on Friday ordered the lockdown of the 9 million residents of the northeastern city of Changchun amid a new spike in Covid-19 cases in the area attributed to the highly contagious omicron variant. - AP

BEIJING, March 13, 2022 (AFP): Chinese health authorities reported nearly 3,400 Covid-19 cases on Sunday, double the previous day, forcing lockdowns on virus hotspots as the country contends with its gravest outbreak in two years.

A nationwide surge in cases has seen authorities close schools in Shanghai and lock down several northeastern cities, as almost 19 provinces battle clusters of the Omicron and Delta variants.