Beijing extends work from home guidance amid Covid outbreak

The Chinese government has adopted a strict ‘zero Covid’ strategy which consists of strict lockdowns and restrictions on people’s everyday lives in a bid to eliminate the virus
A tourist visits the empty Temple of Heaven park in Beijing on May 19
Getty Images
Elly Blake23 May 2022

Beijing authorities have extended work from home guidance as the city grapples with a Covid-19 outbreak.

The Chinese capital recorded 99 new cases on Monday, which is up 61 from the previous day.

This is the largest daily tally so far during the month-long outbreak which has seen new cases reported every day.

“The city’s epidemic prevention and control is at a critical moment,” Beijing’s Tongzhou district posted on its WeChat account late on Sunday.

“One step forward and victory is in sight. One step back, and previous efforts would be wasted.”

Officials in the city of 22 million have placed restrictions on its residents.

People living in five of Beijing’s 16 districts, including the Chaoyang central business district and the Haidian technology hub, have been told to work from home and avoid gatherings.

Those who must go to work are being advised to do a PCR test within 48 hours, and must not deviate from their commute.

Meanwhile, the city’s western Shijingshan district, which is the latest addition to the list, said all office areas and buildings will conduct closed-loop management and strictly control gatherings.

Beijing had already curtailed public transport, asked some shopping malls and other stores and venues to close and sealed buildings where new cases have been detected.

In one large residential compound not under isolation orders, shelves have been set up for deliveries at the entrance, according to residents, soarking fears that preparation was in place for tougher controls on movement.

It comes after a strict lockdown in Shanghai, which is now starting to slowly ease restrictions.

The commercial hub reopened more than 250 bus routes and a small part of its subway system on Sunday.

Meanwhile, towns and districts have announced more mass testing for the coming days and asked residents not to leave their compounds.

Shanghai will keep most restrictions in place this month, before a lifting its two-month-old lockdown from June 1.

There were 802 infections reported across the country on Sunday, down slightly from 824 on Saturday.

This marks the first time the tally was below 1,000 since March 9, and is down from a daily peak of almost 30,000 on April 13.

The Chinese government has adopted a strict “zero Covid” strategy which consists of strict lockdowns and restrictions on people’s everyday lives in a bid to eliminate the virus.

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