Beijing's Covid cases hit high as outbreak spirals

(UPDATED) BEIJING: Beijing posted a record number of new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, with the Chinese capital hunkering down under a tightening chokehold of restrictions that have sent schools back online, closed many restaurants, and forced employees to work from home.

More than 28,000 new infections were reported nationwide — nearing the record high since the Covid-19 pandemic began in early 2020 — with Guangdong province and the city of Chongqing logging over 16,000 and 6,300 cases respectively, health authorities said.