BEIJING—China’s worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic a year-and-a-half ago escalated Wednesday with more cases around the country, the sealing-off of one city, and the punishment of its local leaders.
The country is now on high alert as an outbreak of cases connected to the international airport in the eastern city of Nanjing, Jiangsu province, affected at least 17 provinces. China reported on Wednesday the most new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since January. The exact number of new cases is not known since the Chinese regime routinely suppresses or alters information.
