Around 26,000 runners were set to compete in this year's Wuhan Marathon until it was cancelled at late notice because of COVID-19 ©Getty Images

This year’s Wuhan Marathon - which was due to be held tomorrow - has been postponed at the last minute amid concerns over a rise in COVID-19 infections across China.

Organisers confirmed the postponement yesterday, citing a surge in coronavirus cases in several Chinese cities as the reason for the decision.

A new date has yet to be set for the event, which was also postponed last year as a result of the global health crisis.

"Due to the recent local confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in many places in China, to prevent the spread of the epidemic and effectively protect the lives and health of the people, the organising committee has decided that the 2021 Wuhan Marathon [which] was originally expected to be held on October 24, 2021, will be postponed until further notice," the statement from organisers read.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the postponement of the race."

The first-ever case of COVID-19 was discovered in the Hubei province capital in December 2019, prompting the city to become the first in the world to enter a strict lockdown.

Around 26,000 runners were set to compete in this year's Wuhan Marathon with around 200 places reportedly reserved for health workers.

A series of COVID-19 countermeasures had been put in place, but the race has been called off for a second time as China continues to grapple with the pandemic.

Wuhan was the first city in the world to enter a strict lockdown following the discovery of COVID-19 ©Getty Images
Wuhan was the first city in the world to enter a strict lockdown following the discovery of COVID-19 ©Getty Images

China is taking a "COVID zero" approach to the crisis but clusters of new cases are starting pop up across the country, prompting school closures and flight cancellations.

Beijing - which is due to stage next year’s Winter Olympics and Paralympics and is currently hosting test events - has stepped up mass testing after four COVID-19 cases were identified in a suburban district.

Yesterday, China recorded 28 new infections - 15 more than the previous day.

The Beijing Marathon is set to return in China's capital on October 31.

The mass participation event in Beijing is only open to permanent residents of the Chinese capital, while invited domestic athletes to the elite competition will be required to enter the "closed-loop management system."

Beijing 2022 is set to permit only domestic spectators to attend events and those not fully vaccinated face having to serve a 21-day quarantine period upon arrival before entering the closed-loop management system.

The first edition of the "playbooks" outlining COVID-19 countermeasures is due to be released this month.