Beijing intensified epidemic prevention measures on Tuesday, after a new outbreak of Covid-19, a few weeks before the city hosts the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, the most important event on the Chinese political agenda.
The Beijing municipal government has announced that staff and students must test negative for the novel coronavirus within 48 hours to return to work and school after the mid-autumn festival break.
This reinforcement of the measures ended up causing some confusion this morning in the Chinese capital, as passengers were prevented from getting on public transport.
Beijing has been on high alert since last week, when a new outbreak of the Covid-19 disease hit several university campuses.
Authorities closed the China Communication University in Chaoyang District and isolated several people.
This situation occurs a few weeks before the city hosts the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which starts on October 16.
It is the most important event on China’s political agenda, held every five years.
Beijing recorded 16 cases in the past 24 hours, including six asymptomatic infections.
China maintains a strategy of zero cases of Covid-19. This includes locking down entire districts and cities every time a case is detected, isolating all positive cases and direct contacts at government-designated facilities, and testing the entire population.
Several cities around the Chinese capital are also on alert.
Authorities in Sanhe, Hebei province announced a four-day lockdown from today and four rounds of mass testing after diagnosing one case.
Public transport services were also suspended.
“All residential blocks must leave only one access door open, with staff on duty 24 hours a day. Residents should not go out unless they have a medical emergency,” read a statement from the local government.
Hundreds of thousands of people live in cities around Beijing, including Sanhe, where rents are cheaper.
Several cities across the country have tightened lockdowns and imposed tighter restrictions on domestic travel. Chinese authorities have asked cities, even those without outbreaks, to carry out regular tests on the population until the end of October.
On Friday, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who oversees COVID-19 measures, instructed State Council officials to take “firm measures” to control the virus as quickly as possible and minimize its effects on communities.
Beijing health officials also reiterated that anyone arriving in the city must take two tests within three days, including one within 24 hours of arrival.
Source: TSF
