China announces stricter anti-Covid measures in Beijing

The authorities of the Chinese capital have announced that Beijing will strengthen anti-Covid-19 measures through mandatory screening of people to access various public places.

The decision was announced on the first day of a long Labor Day weekend. The Chinese usually take advantage of this date to travel – but this year, thousands of people’s plans were thwarted.

Many residents must stay at home due to the most serious outbreak of Covid in China since the country discovered the novel coronavirus in late 2019 and experienced its first wave of the disease in early 2020.

To combat the Ômicron variant, which is highly contagious, Chinese authorities have reinforced a “Covid Zero” policy, which consists of widespread testing and confinement when the first cases are detected.

The draconian measures slowed the country’s economy and created frustration among the population.

Beijing has announced that after a five-day holiday, access to public places will be limited, and that from May 5, it will be mandatory to submit a negative Covid test taken in the previous week to enter “various public places” and “use public transportation.”

The news was published on the WeChat account of the Chinese capital.

For activities such as sporting events or group travel, you will need to submit a Covid test for less than 48 hours, as well as a full vaccination certificate.

China reported 10,700 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, most of them in Shanghai, the country’s economic capital.

This city, located in the eastern region of the country, has been under lockdown for nearly a month and is the largest active focus of the disease in the country, with nearly 10,100 cases. However, the number is declining and accounts for nearly half of the cases recorded in early April.

In Beijing, 54 cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, according to the National Health Commission.