Coronavirus: Beijing doubles down on curbs to keep a lid on ‘still challenging’ outbreak
- China’s capital confirms only 51 new Covid-19 infections, but officials point to sporadic cases as cause for concern
- Shanghai to allow more manufacturers to resume production if they obey virus-control rules, offering hopes of easing supply issues
Beijing has doubled down on measures to cut off Covid-19 transmissions, with officials declaring the situation still “very challenging” despite the Chinese capital reporting just 51 new cases on Wednesday.
“The number of confirmed cases in the capital in this round of outbreak has exceeded the total number in the outbreak involving the Xinfadi wholesale market in 2020,” Beijing municipal government spokesman Xu Hejian said, referring to the city’s largest market supplying grocery stores, supermarkets and restaurants that saw infections spike in June 2020.
“New case numbers have hovered near 50 for many days. Yesterday, the number of new cases dropped, but community testing is still detecting sporadic cases. The epidemic prevention and control [situation] in the capital is still very challenging,” Xu told a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
This came as the nation’s political heart suspended many public transport routes and closed subway stations in its drive to curb the spread of Covid-19 and avoid the fate of Shanghai, where millions have been under strict lockdown for more than a month.
Public transport services in Chaoyang district – where most infections were found – will be suspended and residents must work from home from Thursday.
Those who cannot work from home must commute in their own vehicle, Xu said, adding that carpooling is not allowed and residents must drive directly to their final destination without detours.