Beijing’s Covid surge has passed the peak, foreign ministry says

Spokesman Wang Wenbin says people’s lives are gradually returning to normal in the city and China’s pandemic situation is ‘under control’

It remains unclear how many people have been infected with the virus since authorities stopped reporting daily case numbers

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China’s foreign ministry says Beijing is the first city to pass the peak of the current outbreak. Photo: TNS

Published: 6:59pm, 28 Dec 2022Updated: 7:42pm, 28 Dec 2022

The coronavirus surge in Beijing has peaked – the first Chinese city to reach this point since the country abandoned its zero-Covid policy, according to the foreign ministry.

It comes after a leaked document purportedly from a National Health Commission meeting last week said over half the city’s population of around 22 million had been infected with the virus.

On Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the pandemic situation in China was “generally as expected and under control”.

“Beijing has passed the peak of the wave first, and production and [people’s] lives are gradually returning to normal,” he said.

Wang said many countries had experienced a transition period when changing their Covid response and that China was no exception.

“The relevant Chinese departments have also made scientific assessments of possible peaks … in other provinces and cities,” he said. “Necessary preparations have been made … to ensure that the adjustment and transition proceed in a smooth and orderly manner.”

China made a major policy U-turn early this month, ending mandatory mass testing and lockdowns and allowing people who test positive to isolate at home. Residents of more than 10 provinces – including Guangdong, Jiangsu and Sichuan – have been asked to report their infection status via online surveys since mid-December.