Beijing city authorities tighten Covid controls in effort to stop Omicron surge reaching Chinese capital

The municipal authorities have introduced their strictest measures since early 2020, including more curbs on arrivals and wider quarantine regulations

The restrictions follow a clear signal from the central authorities there will be no let-up in the ‘dynamic zero-Covid’ policy

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Beijing has tightened its quarantine rules and will make schools and care homes undergo weekly mass tests. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:00am, 8 Apr 2022Updated: 11:58am, 8 Apr 2022

Beijing city has introduced its strictest Covid controls since the early stages of the pandemic as it seeks to stop the explosion of Omicron cases in other parts of China reaching the capital.

Quarantine rules for residential areas have been tightened, affecting indirect contacts of positive cases as well as close contacts, while more people, including schoolchildren and care home residents, will have to take regular mass tests.

There are also stricter controls on those entering or leaving the city. Foreign visitors and people from areas of China deemed high-risk already had to undergo a lengthy quarantine when entering the city, but now the rules have been tightened for those entering from lower-risk areas too.

People from low-risk zones in mainland China must now report to their local communities or the hotels where they are staying within 12 hours of arrival and must take a PCR test within three days of arrival.

For the next seven days they are not allowed to attend mass gatherings and parties or enter public venues, although they are still allowed outside.