China is experiencing a new coronavirus outbreak in Beijing, prompting the government to implement fresh travel and movement restrictions to stop a second wave of COVID-19 infections.
Beijing Outs New Restrictions
On Tuesday, the Beijing government released additional restrictions that aim to stop a new coronavirus outbreak in the capital. Several transportation services across the city were suspended as part of the efforts.
People registered under high-risk groups have been prohibited from making outbound trips to prevent the virus from reaching other neighboring cities or provinces. 24-hour security checkpoints have also been deployed.
Entry and exit points have been placed around streets and boulevards, with Beijing officials calling on citizens to improve social distancing measures that were previously relaxed.
Over 100 people who were contacts of a confirmed case in Sichuan province are being monitored closely for coronavirus symptoms. The said confirmed patient flew in from Beijing.
News of fresh restrictions came after Beijing logged 27 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, albeit a drop from Monday's record of 36. For the current outbreak, the Chinese capital now has a total of 106 infections.
Tracing the New Beijing Outbreak
Cases under the new outbreak in Beijing are believed to have links to the southwest Xinfadi market wherein vegetables and fresh fruit are being sold. There are also various seafood and meat products in the said market.
Following new cases linked to the Xinfadi market, officials ordered the closure of the market on Saturday. Beijing municipal government spokesman Xu Hejian said the new outbreak is "an extraordinary period."
The latest outbreak sparked talks about a potential second wave of cases in the capital city and the possibility of widespread lockdowns across the country should the virus not be contained quick enough.
Mass testing has also been implanted in the city as part of the efforts to stop a potential second wave. Authorities in Hebei and Liaoning provinces are also on high alert after five cases from the said areas were found to have been close contacts of the patients in the capital city.
WHO Warns of Potential Surge in Cases
The latest developments in Beijing prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to warn of a potential surge in new COVID-19 infections due to the size of Beijing and the people residing in the capital.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual media briefing that "countries must stay alert to the possibility of resurgence" even in nations where there is an apparent control of the crisis.
The WHO further noted that the investigations are ongoing to determine the extent and origin of the new outbreak in one of China's most populated cities.
WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan also hailed the efforts being implemented by Chinese authorities to contain the outbreak in Beijing. Clusters are always a concern for health experts, but Ryan noted that China is investigating appropriately and trying to control the virus' spread by releasing new movement restriction orders as early as now.
As of Tuesday, China logged a total of 83,221 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 4,634 deaths.
