China's capital Beijing has ramped up efforts to curb Covid-19 infections, ordering checks among cold-chain firms and urging residents to cut unnecessary gatherings, as the city reported an uptick in local cases weeks before the Winter Olympics.

Beijing has recorded three domestically transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms, including one previously reported as a local asymptomatic carrier for Jan 18, according to local health authority data.

However, the city and China are still working under guidelines of getting any virus flare-up under control as soon as possible. The strategy takes on extra urgency as Beijing and neighbouring Hebei province will host the Winter Olympics from Feb 4, while the ongoing Lunar New Year travel season raises the risk of virus transmission nationwide, according to a Reuters report.