China is dealing with its most widespread Covid outbreak since the country’s first wave – and high-ranking officials are being punished as a result

In the eastern city of Yangzhou, five warnings were issued to individuals who mishandled mass testing, with Beijing alleging this allowed the virus to continue spreading.

Nationwide, 30 officials including majors, local health directors, and heads of hospitals have been punished for negligence and the mishandling of outbreaks.

The city of Nanjing is where cases are skyrocketing the most – with 308 new infections recorded on Monday and six individuals in a critical condition.

If any of the critically ill are to die – it would be China’s first Covid-related death in more than six months

Despite most of the country’s residents being fully vaccinated, authorities are pushing ahead with their mass testing and isolation strategy – instead of relying on vaccines to stamp the virus out.

Over the weekend, the entire city of Wuhan was tested – with nine locally acquired infections discovered from more than 11 million swabs.