China's capital Beijing is experiencing an 'explosive' Covid-19 outbreak connected to a bar, a government spokesman said on Saturday, as the commercial hub, Shanghai, conducted mass testing to contain a jump in cases tied to a hair salon.
Beijing only relaxed curbs less than two weeks ago that had been imposed to fight a major outbreak that began in April., all people already in isolation or under observation, health official Liu Xiaofeng said.
So far, 115 cases and 6,158 close contacts linked to the bar have been reported, throwing the city of 22-million back into a state of anxiety. The sprawling Universal Beijing Resort - a theme park on the city's outskirts - on Friday rescinded a plan to reopen. City authorities said three of its workers had visited the Heaven Supermarket bar.CITYWIDE TESTING
Authorities ordered PCR testing for all residents in 15 of Shanghai's 16 districts this weekend, and five districts barred residents from leaving home during the testing period. A city official said residents should complete at least one PCR test a week until July 31."I am a little bit worried because if there are positive cases in the compound, it will be put into a sealed situation," said Shanghai resident Shi Weiqi.