China's Dalian city locks down thousands of students: Report

Beijing: Tens of thousands of university students are under lockdown on their campuses in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian, which is battling the biggest flareup in the country's current outbreak, according to Dushikuaibao newspaper.

Two universities in Zhuanghe in Dalian have imposed the curbs since the port city discovered Covid cases on November 4, the report said, citing students. Classes are being held online, the paper said.

China is struggling to contain its fourth outbreak of the more infectious delta variant in the past five months. With more than 1,000 locally-transmitted infections spread across 21 provinces, it is already the broadest flare-up since the virus first emerged in Wuhan.


Dalian has become the country's latest hotspot, reporting 40 local cases on Saturday out of the 57 new infections added nationwide.

The city's authorities have urged people not to leave their homes to reduce transmission, and have halted operations at public venues deemed non-essential.