China's Tianjin tightens control over travel as Omicron cases surge

The Chinese city of Tianjin has tightened exit controls and now requires residents to obtain approval from employers or community authorities before leaving town

The Chinese city of Tianjin, with around 14 million people, has tightened exit controls and now requires residents to obtain approval from employers or community authorities before leaving town and a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of departure.

The northern coastal city reported 21 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms on Sunday, the National Health Commission said on Monday, up from three a day earlier.

Tianjin said over the weekend it detected two local infections who contracted with Omicron. The city government announced the new exit rules in a statement late on Sunday.

In the central