[Correspondent Diary] 'Emergency' Declared in Beijing... Find the Hidden COVID-19 Infected

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] "Dear parents, this is an urgent notice. Beijing is facing a new challenge in COVID-19 prevention."

The capital of China, Beijing, is on high alert due to a cluster infection and resurgence of COVID-19. Although elementary schools in Beijing were scheduled to reopen their doors and start in-person classes for lower grades for the first time in five months from the 15th, the plan has been urgently postponed due to concerns over the COVID-19 resurgence.

On the morning of the 14th, homeroom teachers of lower grades in Beijing elementary schools sent an urgent notice with this content to parents via mobile phone messages. "Dear parents, this is an urgent notice. Beijing is facing a new challenge in COVID-19 prevention. If the student or any cohabitant has visited the Xinfadi Market in Beijing since May 30, or if the student or any cohabitant has had contact with workers at Xinfadi Market, please provide your name, gender, ID number, contact information, and address."

With confirmed COVID-19 cases emerging daily at Xinfadi Wholesale Market, a large agricultural and aquatic products market in Fengtai District, Beijing, schools are also participating in the search for hidden infections. Through another notice sent to parents the previous day, schools informed that "the in-person attendance of students in grades 1 to 3 on the 15th is temporarily postponed. All students must participate in online classes at home every day."

Beijing is on high alert as new COVID-19 cases continue to be reported daily at Xinfadi Market. According to China’s state-run CCTV on the 14th, 36 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and one additional asymptomatic infection were reported in Beijing the previous day. After one new confirmed case on the 11th and six on the 12th, most of the cases are workers at Xinfadi Market. The city authorities have closed Xinfadi Market and conducted large-scale nucleic acid testing targeting market workers. Dozens of Xinfadi Market workers tested positive and are under intensive management. Zhang Weixi, the manager of Xinfadi Market, announced that the COVID-19 virus was detected on cutting boards used for imported salmon.

Since mid-April, when no new COVID-19 cases had been reported, Beijing had been actively promoting a return to normal life, even launching a large-scale "Beijing Consumption Season" event last week to overcome the economic impact of COVID-19. However, due to the sudden resurgence concerns, the COVID-19 prevention level was raised. From 3 p.m. the previous day, the COVID-19 risk level in Xicheng District, Fengtai District, and Fangshan District was adjusted from low risk to medium risk. The city authorities temporarily suspended operations of major wholesale markets, conducted comprehensive COVID-19 testing for residents in nearby areas, and initiated extensive food safety inspections. Not only was the reopening of elementary school lower grades postponed, but group tours and sports events were also collectively suspended.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.