Bejing authorities on Saturday launched another round of mass COVID-19 testing as China's capital grapples with the virus.

Officials have shut more metro stations and buses even as Shanghai residents continue to remain under lockdown for over a month.

Chaoyang district in Beijing has emerged as the epicentre of the virus with authorities conducting daily testing in the area which also houses embassies and offices.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-halts-public-transport-amid-covid-outbreak-in-china-476293">Also Read:&nbsp;Beijing halts public transport amid Covid outbreak in China</a>

China has been hit by a virus surge not seen since the pandemic hit the country in early 2020. Reports claim at least 60 subway stations have been shut in the nation's capital with dining-in services in restaurants banned in several districts.

On Friday, Beijing reported &nbsp;45 new symptomatic cases even as authorities announced Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou in September has been postponed.

Watch:&nbsp;China struggles to contain COVID-19&nbsp;surge

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Hangzhou is located near Shanghai which has been in lockdown due to surging coronavirus cases. China has also postponed the World University Games.

People in Beijing have been asked to work remotely even as authorities have stuck to the "Covid Zero" policy of undertaking mass testing and lockdowns.

Shanghai was hit with a food crisis after a sudden lockdown was announced. The people celebrated Labour Day holiday amid large scale testing as authorities sought to close public places and shut down gyms with several cities reportedly under partial lockdown.

China was hit with the Delta variant in September last year however the Omicron variant began affecting the population in January as the country hosted the Winter Olympics in February.

(With inputs from Agencies)

 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Bejing authorities on Saturday launched another round of mass COVID-19 testing as China's capital grapples with the virus. Officials have shut more metro stations and buses even as Shanghai residents continue to remain under lockdown for over a month.

Bejing authorities on Saturday launched another round of mass COVID-19 testing as China's capital grapples with the virus. Officials have shut more metro stations and buses even as Shanghai residents continue to remain under lockdown for over a month. Chaoyang district in Beijing has emerged as the epicentre of the virus with authorities conducting daily testing in the area which also houses embassies and offices. Also Read: Beijing halts public transport amid Covid outbreak in China China has been hit by a virus surge not seen since the pandemic hit the country in early 2020. Reports claim at least 60 subway stations have been shut in the nation's capital with dining-in services in restaurants banned in several districts. On Friday, Beijing reported 45 new symptomatic cases even as authorities announced Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou in September has been postponed. Watch: China struggles to contain COVID-19 surge Hangzhou is located near Shanghai which has been in lockdown due to surging coronavirus cases. China has also postponed the World University Games. People in Beijing have been asked to work remotely even as authorities have stuck to the "Covid Zero" policy of undertaking mass testing and lockdowns. Shanghai was hit with a food crisis after a sudden lockdown was announced. The people celebrated Labour Day holiday amid large scale testing as authorities sought to close public places and shut down gyms with several cities reportedly under partial lockdown. China was hit with the Delta variant in September last year however the Omicron variant began affecting the population in January as the country hosted the Winter Olympics in February. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Beijing starts new COVID-19 mass testing; more metro stations closed

There's talk of a second <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-60-of-infectious-75-of-emerging-diseases-originate-from-animals-says-study-293767">coronavirus </a>wave in Beijing. In the Chinese capital's most high profile district, China's diplomatic and financial hub.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-eases-entry-sets-up-fast-track-channels-for-business-personnel-to-visit-293819">Also Read:&nbsp;China eases entry, sets up 'fast-track channels' for business personnel to visit</a>

It's the new high-risk zone at risk with 3.5 million residents, numerous foreign embassies, &nbsp;headquarters of top international firms and offices of two Chinese ministries.

Wuhan had celebrated the lifting of the 76-day lockdown. China's message to the world was - we've beaten the coronavirus. The light show may have been a bit premature, however, with China yet to disentangle itself from the web of the Wuhan virus. Now, the threat of a second outbreak looms. The number of new cases is on the rise.

Beijing's Chaoyang district may be the "new Wuhan", the swanky business district has been classified as China's only "high risk" zone. What is a high-risk zone all about?

Any area that has more than 50 confirmed cases and records a cluster of outbreak within 14 days. What makes Chaoyang a high-risk zone?

Its total number of coronavirus cases exceeds 50. The district has also confirmed a cluster. This after an imported case infected three family members. Should china be worried?

Yes, and for many reasons. First, Chaoyang is Beijing's most populous district. A chain reaction puts 3.47 million residents at risk. Second, who are the residents?

The creme de la creme of Beijing. Chaoyang is Beijing's diplomatic district. It has all foreign missions - except the embassies of Russia and Luxembourg.

Third, Chaoyang &nbsp;houses Beijing's business district. Sixty per cent of the foreign business agencies, 3,000 international companies, 167 international news agencies are situated in in the swanky area.

Needless to say, it is home to some of the top Chinese firms. Fourth, headquartered in Chaoyang is China's ministry of foreign affairs, the ministry of culture, and 
the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

So the government's workflow is at stake. Also, the main international airport serving Beijing is located at Chaoyang. In the area are some of the capital's poshest malls, upmarket bars, elite clubs and restaurants.

The cluster epidemic in Chaoyang could spell disaster leave alone an uncontrolled spread. International arrivals in Beijing are sent to a 14-day paid hotel quarantine 
but are the measures enough?

If so, how did Chaoyang record a cluster?

It comes at a time when China is determined to re-open its economy. It is trying to usher in more aggressive economic policies. Beijing has re-opened 73 tourist sites.&nbsp;30.7 per cent of the city's municipality is open as are parts of the Great Wall of China.

The Dragon wants to wear a mask of normalcy but Chaoyang is a ticking time bomb and the situation calls for a preventive lockdown but nothing really is black and white in China.&nbsp;

There's talk of a second coronavirus wave in Beijing. In the Chinese capital's most high profile district, China's diplomatic and financial hub. Also Read: China eases entry, sets up 'fast-track channels' for business personnel to visit It's the new high-risk zone at risk with 3.

There's talk of a second coronavirus wave in Beijing. In the Chinese capital's most high profile district, China's diplomatic and financial hub. Also Read: China eases entry, sets up 'fast-track channels' for business personnel to visit It's the new high-risk zone at risk with 3.5 million residents, numerous foreign embassies, headquarters of top international firms and offices of two Chinese ministries. Wuhan had celebrated the lifting of the 76-day lockdown. China's message to the world was - we've beaten the coronavirus. The light show may have been a bit premature, however, with China yet to disentangle itself from the web of the Wuhan virus. Now, the threat of a second outbreak looms. The number of new cases is on the rise. Beijing's Chaoyang district may be the "new Wuhan", the swanky business district has been classified as China's only "high risk" zone. What is a high-risk zone all about? Any area that has more than 50 confirmed cases and records a cluster of outbreak within 14 days. What makes Chaoyang a high-risk zone? Its total number of coronavirus cases exceeds 50. The district has also confirmed a cluster. This after an imported case infected three family members. Should china be worried? Yes, and for many reasons. First, Chaoyang is Beijing's most populous district. A chain reaction puts 3.47 million residents at risk. Second, who are the residents? The creme de la creme of Beijing. Chaoyang is Beijing's diplomatic district. It has all foreign missions - except the embassies of Russia and Luxembourg. Third, Chaoyang houses Beijing's business district. Sixty per cent of the foreign business agencies, 3,000 international companies, 167 international news agencies are situated in in the swanky area. Needless to say, it is home to some of the top Chinese firms. Fourth, headquartered in Chaoyang is China's ministry of foreign affairs, the ministry of culture, and the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. So the government's workflow is at stake. Also, the main international airport serving Beijing is located at Chaoyang. In the area are some of the capital's poshest malls, upmarket bars, elite clubs and restaurants. The cluster epidemic in Chaoyang could spell disaster leave alone an uncontrolled spread. International arrivals in Beijing are sent to a 14-day paid hotel quarantine but are the measures enough? If so, how did Chaoyang record a cluster? It comes at a time when China is determined to re-open its economy. It is trying to usher in more aggressive economic policies. Beijing has re-opened 73 tourist sites. 30.7 per cent of the city's municipality is open as are parts of the Great Wall of China. The Dragon wants to wear a mask of normalcy but Chaoyang is a ticking time bomb and the situation calls for a preventive lockdown but nothing really is black and white in China.

Why Beijing's top district is a high-risk coronavirus zone

Chinese health officials say the risk of an outbreak of pneumonic plague is minimal after two new cases were confirmed this week in Beijing, the official China Daily said on Thursday.

Two patients from Inner Mongolia were quarantined after being diagnosed with the highly infectious and often fatal disease, health authorities in the Chaoyang district of the capital said on Tuesday.

State news agency Xinhua said one of the two was in critical condition while the other was stable. Infected in Inner Mongolia, they were sent by ambulance to a medical institution in Beijing.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said all those at risk of exposure to plague had been traced and treated, and hospitals had stepped up monitoring of those with similar symptoms.

Pneumonic plague is a lung disease spread mostly by rats, with death rates of close to 100% in humans if left untreated, Beijing health authorities said in a notice.

Outbreaks in China have been rare, but large parts of the northwestern city of Yumen were sealed off in 2014 after a 38-year-old resident died of bubonic plague, known as "Black Death" in the Middle Ages and caused by the same bacterium as the pneumonic variant.

Rodent populations have risen in Inner Mongolia after persistent droughts, worsened by climate change. An area the size of the Netherlands was hit by a "rat plague" last summer, causing damages of 600 million yuan ($86 million), Xinhua said.

Chinese health officials say the risk of an outbreak of pneumonic plague is minimal after two new cases were confirmed this week in Beijing, the official China Daily said on Thursday.

Chinese health officials say the risk of an outbreak of pneumonic plague is minimal after two new cases were confirmed this week in Beijing, the official China Daily said on Thursday. Two patients from Inner Mongolia were quarantined after being diagnosed with the highly infectious and often fatal disease, health authorities in the Chaoyang district of the capital said on Tuesday. State news agency Xinhua said one of the two was in critical condition while the other was stable. Infected in Inner Mongolia, they were sent by ambulance to a medical institution in Beijing. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said all those at risk of exposure to plague had been traced and treated, and hospitals had stepped up monitoring of those with similar symptoms. Pneumonic plague is a lung disease spread mostly by rats, with death rates of close to 100% in humans if left untreated, Beijing health authorities said in a notice. Outbreaks in China have been rare, but large parts of the northwestern city of Yumen were sealed off in 2014 after a 38-year-old resident died of bubonic plague, known as "Black Death" in the Middle Ages and caused by the same bacterium as the pneumonic variant. Rodent populations have risen in Inner Mongolia after persistent droughts, worsened by climate change. An area the size of the Netherlands was hit by a "rat plague" last summer, causing damages of 600 million yuan ($86 million), Xinhua said.

China says plague outbreak risk minimal after two new cases in Beijing