BEIJING, (Reuters) – Several Chinese cities were placed on COVID-19 high alert on Monday as Lunar New Year Holiday Travel Season began. It required travellers to notify them days in advance of their travels, since the Omicron variant had reached further areas, including Beijing.

The highly contagious Omicron has been warned by authorities that it increases the chance of COVID-19 transmitting as many millions of Chinese people travel through China to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Luoyang and Jieyang are two cities in China that require travellers to notify their employers, communities, or hotels three days in advance of arriving.

Yulin in the southwestern region of China said that those who wish to apply for entry should submit an online form with all details (including their travel plans) at least one working day prior.

The Omicron was detected by two Omicron-transmitted Omicron cases in Beijing over the weekend.

Pang Xinghuo said Monday that there is no way to rule out the possibility of the Omicron infection in Beijing through imports.

Vice director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission Li Ang said that nine Omicron infection cases had been admitted to a Beijing hospital, six more are being treated. He wouldn’t reveal the date or reason for which the Omicron infections were acquired.

According to state TV, one Omicron was discovered in Meizhou (Guangdong) province. This infection is linked to an Omicron epidemic in Zhuhai.

So far, Omicron-infected travelers from overseas have been reported in at least 5 provinces and 12 municipalities.

China has yet to change its policy of rapidly containing local infections, even though it boasts an 86.6% vaccination rate. This strategy is more urgent in preparation for the Winter Olympics. They will be held in Beijing and neighboring Hebei provinces starting February 4.

Numerous domestic and international flights were suspended, according to local authorities.

China’s aviation regulator stated Monday that two American flights would be canceled due to COVID-19 violations. It brings the total of cancellations this year for the country (where Omicron is growing) up to 76.

China has reported 163 localized transmitted infections, with confirmed symptoms, for Sunday. Official data was released Monday. This is an increase from the 65 that were recorded a day before.

Sunday’s rise in infection rates was driven mainly by the increase of cases in Tianjin, Anyang and Anyang. Omicron is often found in clusters in these cities.

Anyang and Tianjin reported slightly more 600 local symptoms from the current epidemics. Although the numbers are smaller than other clusters of infections overseas, authorities still maintain limited mobility within cities and travel to the outside.