China’s capital Beijing begins Covid testing in commercial zones

BEIJING – China’s capital Beijing last weekend warned that Covid has spread undetected in the city for a week, and more cases will be investigated.

Chaoyang’s main business district begins three days of mass testing on Monday to anyone who lives or works in the area, where many foreign embassies and businesses are located. The county accounts for most of the 42 new Covid cases reported in Beijing as of Friday.

Only specific apartment buildings have been locked down in Beijing. Schools are mostly still open, but Chaoyang commercial district has requested suspend all live group activities and training courses, including arts and sports.

The increased cases in Beijing come as mainland China faces its worst Covid outbreak since early 2020. The country has followed a strict zero-Covid policy of using lockdowns. fast, quarantine and travel restrictions to control the virus outbreak.

Most of Shanghai, the largest city in China, remains under extended lockdown and has reported more than 100 new Covid-related deaths since Friday.

Nationally, Shanghai has by far accounted for the most Covid cases, reporting on Sunday more than 2,400 symptomatic cases and more than 16,900 asymptomatic cases.

Beijing and Shanghai rank among China’s ten largest province-level regions based on GDP, according to Wind Information. Data shows Beijing’s economy grew 4.8% in the first quarter, like the national level, while Shanghai increased by 3.1% when Targeted lockdowns increased in March.

Service industry workers affected by the latest series of cases in Beijing’s Chaoyang business district can receive 100 yuan ($15.38) a day, for up to 21 days, the government said. city ​​said.

Anecdotally, news of the sudden spike in cases and mass testing sent locals rushing to buy food.