China has launched mass health screenings in Xinjiang after a spike in coronavirus cases raised fears of a fresh outbreak in the far western province.

The new testing regime comes a day after authorities curtailed most flights into regional capital Urumqi and shut down local subway and public transport services.

The city has recorded 17 new coronavirus infections as of today, authorities said in a briefing.Mass screening for the virus will begin in buildings which had reported new cases and eventually cover all of Urumqi, said local health commission chief Zhang Wei.