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dpa
Beijing
Following several dozen coronavirus infections, the Chinese capital, Beijing, has extended mass testing to about 90% of its 21 million inhabitants.
In addition to the largest district of Chaoyang, residents of 11 other districts will now be tested three times by Saturday, the authorities announced.
After the first round of 3.7 million tests the day before, however, only 22 new infections had been detected by Tuesday afternoon.
Despite the low number, fears were rife that Beijing could also go into a partial or full lockdown, similar to one Shanghai is currently experiencing.
Several neighbourhoods have already been sealed off. Their residents cannot leave the area.
Experts pointed out that, unlike Shanghai, Beijing has intervened early and tested, which should help get the outbreak under control. A total of around 100 cases have been detected in the capital.
However, despite the extensive curfews that have been in place in Shanghai for a month, around 17,000 new infections were again reported in the eastern Chinese port city, the vast majority asymptomatic. There were also 33 deaths related to a Covid-19 infection in the metropolis of 26 million people.
Shanghai is at the centre of the biggest coronavirus wave in China since the outbreak of the pandemic more than two years ago.
With mass testing, quarantine and curfews, the government of the most populous country is pursuing a strict zero-Covid strategy, which is being severely tested by the particularly contagious Omicron variant.
However, Beijing says it won’t consider relaxing its policies.
Beijing
Following several dozen coronavirus infections, the Chinese capital, Beijing, has extended mass testing to about 90% of its 21 million inhabitants.
In addition to the largest district of Chaoyang, residents of 11 other districts will now be tested three times by Saturday, the authorities announced.
After the first round of 3.7 million tests the day before, however, only 22 new infections had been detected by Tuesday afternoon.
Despite the low number, fears were rife that Beijing could also go into a partial or full lockdown, similar to one Shanghai is currently experiencing.
Several neighbourhoods have already been sealed off. Their residents cannot leave the area.
Experts pointed out that, unlike Shanghai, Beijing has intervened early and tested, which should help get the outbreak under control. A total of around 100 cases have been detected in the capital.
However, despite the extensive curfews that have been in place in Shanghai for a month, around 17,000 new infections were again reported in the eastern Chinese port city, the vast majority asymptomatic. There were also 33 deaths related to a Covid-19 infection in the metropolis of 26 million people.
Shanghai is at the centre of the biggest coronavirus wave in China since the outbreak of the pandemic more than two years ago.
With mass testing, quarantine and curfews, the government of the most populous country is pursuing a strict zero-Covid strategy, which is being severely tested by the particularly contagious Omicron variant.
However, Beijing says it won’t consider relaxing its policies.
