Beijing, Mar 13: Coronavirus cases in China has hit two-year high as health officials have reported about 2,000 new infections in different parts of the country, including 20 in Beijing.

The Chinese mainland on Saturday reported 1,807 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 131 imported cases, China's National Health Commission said on Sunday.

Of the new local infections, 1,412 were reported in Jilin province, where China last Friday ordered a lockdown of the nine million residents of the provincial capital Changchun amid a new spike in COVID-19 cases in the area attributed to the highly contagious omicron variant.

Besides Changchun the latest lockdowns, also include Yucheng with 500,000 people in Shandong province.

The Commission reported that besides Jilin, 175 cases were reported in Shandong, 62 in Guangdong, 39 in Shaanxi, 33 in Hebei, 23 in Jiangsu, and 17 in Tianjin.

Beijing also reported 20 cases.

Meanwhile, the situation continue to deteriorate in Hong Kong where officials confirmed 27,647 new Covid-19 cases, including 11,858 positive, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Sunday.

The former British colony also reported COVID-related 87 deaths taking the overall toll to 3,729, the report said.

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Belagavi: A married young man allegedly died by suicide after jumping into the Malaprabha river along with his lover on Wednesday morning under the jurisdiction of the Ramadurga police station. The incident is said to have occurred after his family opposed his second marriage.

The deceased have been identified as Jagadish Yallappa Kavalekar (27) and Gangamma Pavadeppa Tyapi (26), both residents of Mallapur village in the taluk.

According to police, Jagadish’s wife had gone to her parental home in Bochabal village for her first delivery. Dur ing this period, discussions regarding Jagadish’s second marriage reportedly arose within the family.

When family members insisted that the issue be addressed only after his wife returned, opposition intensified, leading to tension at home.

Following the disagreement, Jagadish and Gangamma left their homes on Monday. Their bodies were found in the Malaprabha river on Wednesday morning. Upon receiving information, the Ramadurga police rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies from the river. Police said the bodies were found embracing each other.

A case has been registered at the Ramadurga police station, and further investigation is underway.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)