21 Cases of Group Infection at Zhong Beijing Bank... Spread Continues Despite Strengthened Quarantine Measures

On the 5th, a medical worker in Chaoyang District, Beijing, the capital of China, is collecting a specimen from a resident for a COVID-19 test. [Image source=Yonhap News]

A cluster of 21 COVID-19 infections has occurred at a bank in Beijing, China, as the spread continues.

Beijing is expanding lockdown areas daily and strengthening quarantine policies, but the number of new infections has remained between 30 and 70 since the 25th of last month.

According to the National Health Commission of China (NHC) on the 9th, the number of new infections in Beijing the previous day was 49 (including 16 asymptomatic cases), down from 62 on the 7th.

At a press conference on epidemic prevention, Beijing authorities stated, "A new cluster infection has occurred at a bank in Shunyi District, with 21 confirmed cases so far," adding, "Those infected related to the bank include 17 employees and 4 family members of employees, residing in six districts within Beijing."

Beijing is increasing its quarantine measures by conducting the 7th round of citywide PCR tests in six of its 16 districts.

Starting from the 7th, PCR testing began for all residents in five districts including Chaoyang District, and from the 8th, PCR testing was also scheduled for Shunyi District, which borders Chaoyang District.

Previously, since the 25th of last month, Beijing conducted six rounds of PCR testing targeting all residents in 12 districts, covering over 90% of the population.

Authorities have raised the level of epidemic control in Shunyi District, where the cluster occurred, and strengthened management of residents' movement within controlled zones. Additionally, as the number of controlled zones increased, operations at Olympic Park and Chaoyang Park, where crowds gather, were temporarily suspended.

Currently, 825 buildings across Beijing are under lockdown management.

On the 8th, Shanghai reported 3,947 new infections (including 3,625 asymptomatic cases), a slight decrease from 3,975 on the 7th. Nationwide, China recorded 4,260 new confirmed cases (including 3,859 asymptomatic cases) on the same day.

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