Beijing Locks Down 29 Residential Complexes to Block COVID-19 Spread

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Beijing city has imposed lockdown measures on 29 residential complexes to block the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 16th, China Global Times reported that as of 9 a.m. that day, a total of 29 residential complexes within Beijing were under lockdown. As workers and contacts at the Xinfadi Market were infected in clusters, most of the residential complexes locked down in Beijing are located near markets. Seven residential complexes near Tiantaohonglian Market in Xicheng District, ten near Xiuandong Market in Haidian District, eleven near Xinfadi Market in Fengtai District, and one in Fangshan District were locked down to block the spread of COVID-19.

Confirmed cases have occurred in nine districts within Beijing. Fengtai District, where Xinfadi Market is located, has the highest number with 80 cases, followed by Daxing District (12 cases), Fangshan District (4 cases), and Xicheng District (2 cases). Seven districts including Shunyi, Changping, and Tongzhou have not yet reported any COVID-19 confirmed cases.

Currently, the Huaxiang area in Fengtai District, where Xinfadi Market is located, is designated as a high-risk area for COVID-19, and 22 areas including the financial district in Xicheng District are designated as medium-risk. Beijing city has identified 200,000 people who visited Xinfadi Market after May 30. Nucleic acid testing is currently underway for these individuals.

According to the National Health Commission of China, as of midnight on that day, Beijing, where the entire community is in a "wartime state" fighting the risk of cluster infections, reported 27 new confirmed cases. Two suspected cases and three asymptomatic infections were also newly reported. Currently, 106 COVID-19 confirmed patients are receiving treatment in Beijing hospitals, and 10 asymptomatic infections are under medical observation.

Wu Junyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, diagnosed that the next three days will be critical for Beijing's quarantine efforts. Appearing on a China Central Television (CCTV) program, he said, "The next three days, during which people already infected with the virus begin to show symptoms, will determine the trend of this outbreak. The initial infection in Beijing likely occurred as early as the end of last month. The first confirmed case was on June 11, and the outbreak began on June 5. We believe the initial infection occurred in late May or early June."

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