More mass Covid tests for Chinese capital’s worst-hit district to stop outbreak

Chaoyang, Beijing’s largest district and home to 4 million people, is at the centre of the city’s outbreak, accounting for around 40 per cent of cases

The district has ordered construction work to stop and closed offices and public venues in a bid to stop the virus spreading further

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People using public transport in Beijing must now show a negative result from a PCR test taken within the previous seven days. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:59pm, 6 May 2022Updated: 6:49pm, 6 May 2022

A new round of mass testing will be conducted this weekend in Chaoyang district, the area worst affected by Chinese capital’s latest wave of Covid-19, as municipal authorities vowed to squash the outbreak with stringent curbs.

Beijing reported 66 local infections on Friday, including 13 asymptomatic cases – bringing the tally to 610 since the Omicron variant surfaced in the city on April 22.

Around half the cases reported on Friday and 40 per cent of the total were detected in Chaoyang district, the largest in Beijing and home to nearly 4 million people.

Among the 66 infections, 64 were from quarantine venues and two were detected from mass testing.

Beijing has already conducted two rounds of citywide mass testing to try to cut hidden chains of transmission.

In addition to Chaoyang, other districts which have reported cases since April 25 will also conduct mass testing over the weekend.

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