The Chinese capital, Beijing, has stepped up measures to prevent COVID, tighten public controls and close some residential complexes after quadrupling its number of cases in recent weeks, just as a key Communist Party congress is in full swing.
The city of another 21 million people on Thursday reported 18 new cases transmitted for the past day, bringing the total for the past 10 days to 197. This is 4 times more than the 49 infections detected in the last 10-day period.
While the number of cases is very low compared to other countries, China’s zero-COVID policy has forced the capital to step up preventive measures, especially with the Communist Party holding its congress every five years this week, which President Xi Jinping is hoping to win an unprecedented third term as leader.
Beijing’s fitness authority has called for a more rigorous screening of those in danger and meticulous checks on others entering crowded places, adding supermarkets and gyms.
Some residential complexes with suspected cases have been placed in a three-day lockdown that can drag on if new infections emerge.
“Let no one be forgotten,” Beijing’s fitness government said.
In recent days, China vowed to stick to its zero-COVID policy despite growing public frustration with it and its impact on the economy, stifling the hypothesis that it will soon melt the tough stance.
Shanghai, like many other Chinese cities dealing with sporadic COVID outbreaks, revealed this week that it plans to build a 3250-bed quarantine facility on a small island near the city center.
In April-May, the city of another 25 million people went through a prolonged lockdown after detecting thousands of cases.
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Other major cities, besides Beijing and Guangzhou, have quarantine centers with thousands of beds. They also conduct normal public testing campaigns.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed. )
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