China reports first Covid deaths in six months as Beijing cases rise - The Guardian

China reported the deaths of three people in Beijing over the weekend as its first fatalities from Covid-19 in six months, with cases rising despite a stringent zero-Covid policy.

Students in schools across several Beijing districts buckled down for online classes on Monday after officials called for residents in some of its hardest-hit areas to stay home.

While China’s Covid tallies are low compared with most other countries, the latest announcements follow a recent uptick in cases after months of few infections being reported.

In the southern manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, more than 8,000 new daily cases were reported on Sunday, prompting officials to launch a general Covid screening in the central district of Haizhu that is home to about 1.8 million people and lock down the Baiyun district for five days