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Josephine Ma

Beijing reported 49 new community cases of Covid-19 – two of them asymptomatic – on Friday, almost a week after the Chinese capital moved quickly to control small outbreaks.
There were also two imported infections, both from Hong Kong.
Three rounds of mass testing for about 20 million people in Beijing began on Monday in an attempt to prevent a similar ordeal to Shanghai, which has been in various forms of lockdown for more than a month.
Only a few dozen cases have been recorded daily in Beijing in the first two rounds, with 56 infections reported on Thursday.
Since the outbreak began a week ago, 228 cases have been recorded in 12 districts, including 101 in Chaoyang and 62 in Fangshan.
Many of the new cases reported on Friday were teachers and students from schools.


Li Ang, deputy director of the city’s health commission, said on Friday that the city had completed a second round of mass testing, involving 21.1 million samples, and just dozens of positive cases had been picked up each day.
Fears of Shanghai-style lockdowns sparked panic buying last week but authorities have sought to assure residents that there are enough supplies to meet needs.
Officials said they had mobilised resources to ensure sufficient food supply in the city.
Beijing authorities have urged people not to leave the city during the Labour Day holiday period, which starts on Saturday and continues until May 4.
All Beijing residents must present a negative test result from the previous 48 hours if they want to go to public venues such as tourist attractions, hotels, and hostels during the holiday, municipal government spokesman Xu Hejian said.
Anyone travelling to Beijing will be tested on arrival, and again 24 hours and 72 hours later. They will not be allowed to attend any gathering or go to crowded places for seven days.
Xu also said that negative test results from the previous 48 hours were required for all residents if they wanted to go to work or school after the holiday.


Security and pandemic control will be high on the agenda at the Communist Party’s national congress in Beijing this autumn, when the party’s general secretary, President Xi Jinping, is expected to secure a third term.
Earlier this month, Chinese Health Minister Ma Xiaowei ruled out any relaxation of the country’s strict pandemic control measures ahead of the congress, the most important political event of the year.


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News

China

Coronavirus

Greater China


Lockdown fears spark panic buying but while strict controls are in place the city’s advice is not to travel
People arriving in the capital will have to be tested three times and avoid crowds and gatherings for seven days



Lockdown fears spark panic buying but while strict controls are in place the city’s advice is not to travel.
