China has cancelled hundreds of flights at a Shanghai airport due to a local outbreak of the coronavirus.

The country has, for the most part, contained the pandemic through tight restrictions but is facing several local outbreaks in several cities.

Seven groups of infections have been discovered in the metropolis of Shanghai that is linked to companies that process cargo.

Thousands of employees of Pudong International Airport have now been tested for corona. On Tuesday, authorities cancelled some 500 outbound flights from the airport, about half of all flights.

The coronavirus first appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December. With travel restrictions and bans and lockdowns, Beijing managed to get the virus under control.