Beijing on Wednesday launched a new mass screening campaign for COVID-19 for its 22 million inhabitants, the second in a week, as China’s capital tries to avoid a major blockade like Shanghai’s.
Beijing residents have struggled to stock up on food and other supplies as the city scrambles to prevent an emerging outbreak, but supermarkets remain in ample stock.
Capital authorities focused on mass testing, while Shanghai waited nearly a month before launching a citywide testing campaign.
A month-long lockout in Shanghai has resulted in frustrations with loss of income, separation from families and quarantine conditions, as well as access to health care and food.
A total of 20 million of Beijing’s 22 million residents will be reviewed three times over the weekend, including 3.5 million residents of Chaoyang District on Wednesday. Across the capital, 31 new COVID-19 cases were identified on Tuesday, against 33 the previous day, but no deaths have been recorded so far.
Other cities in China that were locked down began to lift restrictions when cases outside quarantine areas dropped to zero.
Source: Radio-Canada
