Beijing to test most residents as COVID cases climb

By Emily Wang and Ken Moritsugo | Affiliated Press

BEIJING — Beijing will carry out mass screening of most of its 21 million persons, authorities introduced Monday, as a new COVID-19 outbreak sparked stockpiling of food items by inhabitants fearful about the likelihood of a Shanghai-design lockdown.

The Chinese money commenced mass testing people today in one particular of its 16 districts where most of the new situations have been uncovered. The city also imposed lockdowns on particular person residential properties and one section of the city. Late in the working day, health officials mentioned the screening would be expanded Tuesday to all but 5 outlying districts.

Even though only 70 situations have been uncovered considering that the outbreak surfaced Friday, authorities have rolled out stringent measures underneath China’s “zero-COVID” approach to test to prevent a further more distribute of the virus.

Some residents worked from house and many stocked up on food stuff as a safeguard against the risk that they could be confined indoors, as has took place in numerous cities, such as the economic hub of Shanghai. The city of Anyang in central China and Dandong on the border with North Korea became the most up-to-date to get started lockdowns as the omicron variant spreads across the extensive nation of 1.4 billion people today.

Shanghai, which has been locked down for much more than two weeks, reported a lot more than 19,000 new bacterial infections and 51 deaths in the most recent 24-hour period, pushing its announced demise toll from the ongoing outbreak to 138.

Beijing citizens snapped up rice, noodles, veggies and other foods items as lengthy traces fashioned in supermarkets and keep staff rapidly restocked some vacant shelves. Condition media issued studies expressing materials remained plentiful despite the obtaining surge.

Shoppers appeared worried but not nevertheless panicked. One particular female, carrying two luggage of veggies, eggs and frozen dumplings, said she was acquiring a minor extra than typical. A guy explained he isn’t anxious but is just currently being cautious considering that he has a 2-12 months-previous daughter.

Beijing health and fitness officials stated 29 new instances had been determined in the 24 hours by 4 p.m. Monday, elevating the full to 70 given that Friday.

The metropolis has purchased mass tests across sprawling Chaoyang district, the place 46 of the scenarios have been identified. The 3.5 million inhabitants of Chaoyang, as perfectly as individuals who perform in the district, want to be examined on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Screening internet sites have been set up overnight and in the early morning in Chaoyang at residential complexes and workplace properties all over the district. Residents and employees lined up at the momentary outside stations for a swift throat swab by a employee in comprehensive protecting gear. The tests is cost-free.

“I assume Beijing must be fine,” said Gao Haiyang as he waited on line for a COVID-19 examination. “Based on the previous reaction manufactured by my neighborhood, if there is any unexpected emergency, I imagine offer can be assured. Plus there had been classes we learned from other towns. I assume we can make very good preparations.”

Shanghai has buckled less than a stringent lockdown that has pushed citizens to band jointly to get food items shipped as a result of group acquiring. Goods have backed up at the port of Shanghai, impacting provides and manufacturing unit generation and placing a crimp on financial expansion.