Shanghai kicks off new round of mass COVID-19 testing, Beijing cases jump

BAR CLUSTER

The capital on Thursday started to tighten some COVID-19 curbs again, with at least two districts – including its most populous, Chaoyang – closing certain entertainment venues after a flare-up in a busy neighbourhood known for its nightlife, shopping and streets of embassies.

The cases were linked to a drinking establishment known as Heaven Supermarket Bar. Infections have since surged, with Beijing saying on Saturday that all of the 61 new cases uncovered in the city on Friday had either visited the bar or had links to it.

So far a total of 69 cases linked to the bar have been reported, with the afflicted from 14 of Beijing’s 16 districts, throwing the city of 22 million back into a state of anxiety.

Beijing had relaxed less than two weeks ago widespread COVID-19 curbs imposed to fight a major outbreak that began in April.

With the COVID-19 resurgence, the sprawling Universal Beijing Resort late on Friday rescinded a plan to reopen, saying it would remain closed until further notice. Three of its workers had visited the bar, according to Beijing authorities.

In total, mainland China reported 210 new coronavirus cases for June 10, of which 79 were symptomatic and 131 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Saturday.

That was up from 151 new cases a day earlier – 45 symptomatic and 106 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately.

There were no new deaths, leaving the nation’s fatalities at 5,226. As of Friday, mainland China had confirmed 224,659 cases with symptoms.

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