Millions In Beijing Living Under An Expanded Coronavirus Lockdown As Fresh Outbreak Worsens

TOPLINE

Beijing is facing an expanded coronavirus lockdown—including travel bans, gym closures and a pause on school classes—as a new outbreak in China’s capital linked to a huge wholesale food market worsens.

KEY FACTS

Big number

Airlines cancelled more than 1,200 flights out of Beijing on Wednesday amid the new outbreak.

News peg

The city entered a partial lockdown last week after a resurgence of cases mostly linked to the wholesale food market. Officials last week said the city was now in “wartime emergency road.” The Xinfandi market sees thousands of visitors pass through each day, and officials say the latest outbreak could be linked to contaminated seafood or meat from the market.

Key background

Covid-19 was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December and has since infected more than 8 million people worldwide and led to the deaths of nearly 450,000 people. As lockdowns were lifted in China’s worst-hit areas, authorities were on alert for a second wave potentially from asymptomatic cases or infections imported from abroad. 

Further reading

Coronavirus Outbreak, Fears Of Second Wave Lead To Beijing Lockdown (Forbes)

Beijing In ‘Wartime Emergency Mode’ After New Coronavirus Cluster Found At Market (Forbes)

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