The southern Chinese city of Zhuhai has suspended public bus routes after announcing it had detected at least seven cases of the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant there and warning residents not to leave the city.

The coastal city of Zhuhai, which borders the gambling hub Macau, said Omicron had been detected in one mildly ill and six asymptomatic patients, after launching mass testing due to a case in a neighbouring city. AFP reported.

Zhuhai officials have asked residents to avoid leaving the city “unless necessary”, with those who do required to show negative Covid test results within the past 24 hours.