China daily local COVID cases hit two-year high of over 1500

Mainland China reported more than 1,500 new local COVID-19 infections on Saturday, the most since the first nationwide outbreak in early 2020, as the Omicron variant prompted Beijing to introduce self-testing kits for the first time. China's current case count is far fewer than those of many other countries, but the growing number could complicate Beijing's 'dynamic-clearance' ambition to suppress contagion as quickly as possible. Beijing has ordered its localities to stick to the 'dynamic clearing' policy and to prevent a large-scale rebound, prompting several cities to take measures such as cancelling group events, launching rounds of mass testing and cutting face-to-face classes in school.