A second city in China has been forced to enter a total lockdown after just three asymptomatic Covid cases were detected in the region 

Yuzhou – a city which has a population of around 1.1 million people – saw its transport system shut down and all but essential food stores closed overnight.

The latest actions imposed by the government follows a similar lockdown in Xi’an, where 13 million have under a stay at home order, told not to leave their residence since 23rd of December.

The strict measures come ahead of the Lunar New Year and the Winter Olympics due to be held in Beijing

With exactly a month to go until the Games start, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin assured reporters China had “formulated an efficient and highly effective defence system”.

As part of this system, thousands of staff and volunteers started entering a bubble on Tuesday, which will see them have no physical contact with the outside world in order to limit the spread.

Participants and international media arriving the cover the Games will also enter the bubble on arrival in China, where they will remain for the duration of their stay.

The Beijing Olympics have made headlines in recent weeks, with countries like the United States and Australia boycotting the games by not sending any government officials to the event.