China closes off city of 9.3 million after cases found

None of the 9.3 million residents of a Chinese city will be allowed to leave without producing a negative test after a cluster of Covid cases was detected among cleaners. The eastern Chinese city of Nanjing plans to test all of its residents as soon as possible as it goes into a ‘‘soft’’ lockdown. The measures were imposed after 17 people tested positive for the virus. The tests were part of the routine check of personnel working at the city airport, including cleaners and ground staff. By yesterday morning, the authorities had identified 157 close contacts for isolation.