Coronavirus: Beijing’s embassy district rated China’s only high-risk zone

Of the 2,857 districts and counties monitored by a new government app, only Chaoyang, which is home to numerous embassies and an international airport, gets a red warning light

A recent ‘cluster infection’ highlights the ‘great hidden dangers and risks’ faced by the city, CDC deputy director says

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Beijing’s Chaoyang district is home to about 3.5 million people. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 7:30pm, 19 Apr 2020Updated: 11:36am, 21 Apr 2020

The Beijing district that is home to numerous foreign embassies was China’s only coronavirus “high-risk zone” for the three days through Saturday, according to an app developed by the central government to monitor Covid-19 hotspots across the country.

The program, which is available to the public, sets the ratings based on information provided by local authorities in China’s 2,857 districts and counties.

As of 6pm Saturday, Chaoyang – which as well as lots of embassies encompasses Beijing Capital International Airport, the central business district and several popular shopping zones – was the only one to be classed as high risk.

Elsewhere in the country, almost all districts and counties are now rated low risk, including the original epicentre Wuhan, according to the app.

After months of locked down cities and closed factories, China is determined not to allow a second wave of Covid-19 infections to further disrupt its economy. Photo: Xinhua

Among the handful of places classed as medium risk are three in northern China’s Heilongjiang province – two districts of the capital Harbin and the entire city of Suifenhe, which sits on border with Russia – and Baiyun district in the southern city of Guangzhou, which is home to its international airport.

The Chaoyang government was unavailable for comment on Sunday, while phone calls to the Beijing government news office went unanswered.

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