As Shanghai begins widespread testing, Beijing warns of a "explosive" Covid outbreak
Key Takeaways:
- On Saturday, a government spokesman warned that an "explosive" Covid-19 epidemic linked to a bar is wreaking havoc in China's capital Beijing.
- All of the cases were discovered among persons who were already isolated or under surveillance, according to Liu. The city did not mention any new curbs during the briefing.
A government spokesman cautioned on Saturday that China's capital Beijing is dealing with an "explosive" Covid-19 outbreak linked to a bar. Shanghai's commercial hub launched mass testing to curb an increase in cases linked to a popular beauty salon.
Following a flare-up in a busy neighborhood identified for its nightlife, shopping, and streets lined with embassies, Beijing's Covid restrictions have been tightened again since Thursday, with at least two districts - including the capital's most populous, Chaoyang - closing certain entertainment venues.
Although China's infection rate is low by international standards, President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed China's zero-Covid policy, which officials claim is necessary to safeguard the elderly and the medical system. At the same time, most other countries strive to live with the virus.
So yet, only 5,226 people have died in the 1.4 billion-strong country.
The most recent incidents in Beijing have been linked to a bar called Heaven Supermarket Bar. Infections have risen sharply, with Beijing announcing on Saturday that all 61 new cases discovered throughout the city on Friday had either visited or had ties to the club.
"The recent outbreak of cases associated with Heaven Supermarket Bar is explosive in form and wide-ranging in breadth, and the structure of the individuals involved is also complex," said Xu Hejian, a spokeswoman for the Beijing city government, at a news conference.
As of 3 p.m. standard time (0700 GMT) on Saturday, the capital had registered 46 new local Covid cases, according to health official Liu Xiaofeng. According to Liu, all instances were detected among people who were already in isolation or under monitoring. At the briefing, the city did not announce any additional curbs.
So far, 115 cases have been reported, with 6,158 close connections traced to the bar, putting the city of 22 million people again on edge.
Beijing had just loosened Covid restrictions imposed to combat a large outbreak that began in April.
With the reappearance of Covid, the enormous Universal Beijing Resort - a theme park on the outskirts of the city - canceled plans to reopen late on Friday, stating that it would remain closed until further notice. As per Beijing officials, three of its employees visited the Heaven Supermarket bar.
Many areas of the capital have been placed under lockdown, and inhabitants have been instructed to stay at home.