China Covid protests spread to major cities

 In Pictures: Protests widen to China's big cities

In Beijing, protesters held up blank sheets of paper to signal their discontent 

While in Shanghai on Sunday, police officers blocked Urumqi road 

As the protests grew, police formed a cordon

Why is China still trying to achieve zero Covid?

Unlike other countries, which have accepted they will have to live with the disease to a certain extent, China is following a policy it calls "dynamic zero" - taking dynamic action wherever Covid-19 flares up in order to eradicate it.

China's government argues that this policy saves lives, because uncontrolled outbreaks would put many vulnerable people at risk, such as the elderly.

Strict lockdowns mean China's death toll has stayed low ever since the start of the pandemic - the official figure is now just over 5,200.