A district on the outskirts of Wuhan has been locked down for the first time since its initial Covid-19 outbreak

Nearly one million residents in China’s Jiangxia district have been reduced to stay-at-home measures as part of China’s Covid-zero policy.

The city’s public transport has also stopped, and entertainment venues have shut their doors.

The city was first locked down in March 2020 to contain the rapid spread of Covid-19.

It is understood authorities had detected two cases during regular testing drives, and another two cases from close contacts.

It comes as the World Health Organisation recommends scientists continue their investigations into the origins of the pandemic.

Two new studies show a nearby seafood market in Wuhan was most likely the origin for the virus.

One study suggests “exact circumstances remain obscure,” but maintains the virus was likely present in animals sold at the market in 2019.

Researchers believe the studies do not entirely rule out the theory of a lab leak.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of over 6 million people, with the U.S., India and Brazil among some of the hardest hit nations.