Residents in Manzhouli, North China's Inner Mongolia, are queuing for the second round of mass nucleic acid testing on November 29, 2021. Photo: CFP

 Manzhouli, the land port city in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, announced that it has suspended all flights and public transportations, after finding 60 positive samples in the city's mass nucleic acid testing. 

Starting from Saturday, flights, trains, buses and taxis in or from Manzhouli have been cut out. All entry and exit points of the city have implemented 24-hour traffic control, inspecting and monitoring people and vehicles entering and leaving the city, said local government officials at a news conference on Tuesday. 

Except from medical and delivery personnel, all residents are strictly prohibited from leaving the city to minimize the risk of the outbreak dispersion. 

As of Monday noon, the city has reported 28 COVID-19 cases in the latest round of the outbreak. 

A total of 60 positive samples were found in the city's first round of massive city-wide nucleic acid testing program starting Saturday, officials said. 

Manzhouli kicked off its second round of mass nucleic acid testing on Monday morning. 

There are no test results yet to show which strain caused these infections.

Two areas in the city have been listed as high- and mid-risk areas for COVID-19. 

A total of 13 regions are currently listed as high- and mid-risk areas for COVID-19 in China. 

Manzhouli is a city bordering Mongolia and Russia, with many China-Europe freight trains passing through every year, contributing to the global economic revival and supply chain stability amid the pandemic. 

Experts warned that during the winter, land ports may be a difficulty and focus for China's epidemic prevention system. 

Of the outbreaks reported in China over the past few months, several have been associated with land border cities. The two main threads of the recent wave started in Ejin Banner in Inner Mongolia and Heihe, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, both land border ports with cross-border trade, or where migrating wild animals could cross the border. 

Global Times