China has reported nearly 250 locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 since the start of the current outbreak 10 days ago, with many infections in remote towns along porous international borders in the country's northwest.

China had 50 new local cases for October 26, the highest daily count since September 16, according to official data.

The overall number is tiny versus many clusters outside the country. It is also modest compared with more than 1,200 local cases reported during China's July-August outbreak and more than 2,000 cases in January during the last winter.

However, the steady increase of cases in the past week and their geographical spread has alarmed local authorities and prompted the return of complex sets of restrictions on travel as well as on the tourism and catering sectors.

Read more from Reuters here.