Beijing Expands COVID-19 Control Zones... Cumulative Infections Near 1,000

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies in Beijing, the capital of China, the scope of controlled management zones under lockdown is expanding. The cumulative number of infected people in Beijing is also reported to be approaching 1,000.

According to the National Health Commission of China on the 12th, the number of new COVID-19 infections in Beijing the previous day was counted at 37 (including 13 asymptomatic cases). Among them, 2 were initially classified as asymptomatic but later confirmed positive, so the actual number of infected people is 35. As the spread continues, Beijing is strengthening quarantine measures daily, but the number of new infections has remained between 30 and 70 since the 25th of last month.

Since the cluster infection began on the 22nd of last month, the cumulative number of infected people in Beijing has been counted at 928. As infections continue to emerge, Beijing recently designated parts of Haidian District’s Beitaipingzhuang area and some eastern parts of Fengtai District as temporary controlled management zones. Authorities have instructed residents living in these and nearby areas to work from home entirely.

Shunyi District, where a cluster infection occurred at the Agricultural Bank of China data center, suspended all 125 city bus routes starting from this day. Taxi and ride-sharing services heading to severely affected areas such as parts of Chaoyang District, Fangshan District, and Shunyi District were also ordered to stop operations. Currently, Beijing has designated 37 medium-risk areas and 17 high-risk areas, with 905 buildings under lockdown-style management in these zones.

As the spread continues, Beijing announced that starting from the 13th, all residents in 12 districts where over 90% of the population lives will undergo three additional PCR tests weekly.

Meanwhile, Shanghai, China’s largest economic city, recorded 1,411 new infections on the 11th (including 1,305 asymptomatic cases). After excluding 106 cases that were double-counted due to reclassification from asymptomatic to confirmed, the actual number of infected people is 1,305. Among these, 2 were 'community' infections occurring outside quarantine facilities, breaking the 'zero community COVID' status achieved on the 10th after just one day.

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