Officials said that about 166 people infected with the Coronavirus in China were linked to one bar in the capital, Beijing.

A government spokesman described the outbreak as "ferocious".

A smear will be carried out on all residents who live in the area where the pub is located over the next three days.

The number of infections in the city is low, by international standards, but high for China, which is the only major economy in the world that still has a zero-Covid-19 policy.

The outbreak was traced to Heaven Supermarket Bar in Xiuyang District

A housing commission worker told Reuters that two buildings housing hundreds of people in Chaoyang were strictly closed on Sunday after a positive case was reported.

Some people in Beijing said they had received messages telling them to report to the authorities if they had visited Sanlitun cafes recently.

Chinese officials have held back on easing some COVID rules in Beijing due to the outbreak.

Officials said most children in the capital will not return to school next week as originally planned.

The capital has reported 1,979 cases of COVID-19 in the region since last April 22.

China continues to follow a "zero COVID" policy, and people infected with COVID are facing quarantine or hospitalization.

Those in close contact with them also face the prospect of quarantine and the immediate closure of the area in which they live again.

The city of Shanghai, the country's economic hub, and the World Trade Center, recently eased COVID restrictions after a two-month shutdown. 

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