Beijing tightens epidemic control, bans on-site food sales

While the command lockdown continues to be enforced in the financial center of Shanghai, the capital Beijing China faces a new outbreak of infections in the middle of a long holiday, putting city officials and residents on alert.

Over the weekend, authorities in Beijing announced that food and beverage services at restaurants and bars would be suspended during the holiday season. International Labor, according to CNN. After vacation, workers and students need to be certified negative for Covid-19 – with testing done within 48 hours – to be able to return to the city.

A security guard asks tourists to present a negative test certificate to enter an alley in Beijing on April 30. reuters

Additionally, starting May 5, residents must present a negative certificate – test within 7 days – to be able to enter all public spaces as well as use public transport. All residents are required to be tested for Covid-19 at least once a week, according to officials.

On May 1, Universal Beijing Resort said that Universal Studios theme park and City Walk will be closed immediately after receiving “instructions” from the epidemic prevention and control agency. They did not say when the park would reopen.

Beijing has also conducted 7 rounds of testing for the entire population, blocked dozens of residential areas, and suspended activities entertainment and switched to teaching Online Learning. However, the city has not yet imposed a city-wide blockade like Shanghai.

Restrictive measures have made streets that are famous for being packed with tourists during the holidays are now sparser than usual. According to the directive, the park and tourist places In Beijing, only half the number of people allowed, AP reported.

Beijing recorded 41 new infections on May 1, including 36 symptomatic cases, down from 59 the day before, Xinhua News Agency said on the morning of May 2. Since April 20, when the first infections were reported in the city during the current epidemic wave, Beijing has recorded more than 300 cases of Covid-19.

The 1.5-day holiday in China lasts 5 days, from April 30 to May 4. Many governments have asked residents not to leave the locality as well as quarantine people coming from places with cases of infection. China’s Ministry of Transport estimates that about 100 million journeys will be made during the holiday this year, down 62% from last year.