[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Beijing reported 31 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in just one day. Over six days, the number of confirmed cases linked to the Xinfadi Market, a wholesale agricultural and aquatic products market in Beijing, has risen to 137.
On the 17th, the National Health Commission of China announced that as of midnight, there were 44 new confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide. Eleven of these were imported cases infected overseas and entering China. Among the 33 locally transmitted cases in mainland China, 31 were from Beijing. The remaining two cases were reported in Hebei Province and Zhejiang Province, respectively.
The new confirmed cases in Beijing are mostly concentrated in Fengtai District, where Xinfadi Market is located (19 cases), followed by Daxing District (5 cases), Dongcheng District (3 cases), Haidian District (3 cases), and Xicheng District (1 case).
With 31 new confirmed cases added in one day, the total number of confirmed cases in Beijing over five days since the first patient was reported on the 11th has reached 137. In addition to the 137 confirmed patients currently receiving treatment in hospitals, there are also 12 asymptomatic infected individuals under medical observation. In China, asymptomatic infected persons are not included in the official count of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Beijing authorities raised the COVID-19 response level from Level 3 to Level 2 the previous night. Accordingly, starting from the 17th, all elementary, middle, and high school students in Beijing will stop attending school in person and switch back to online classes. People intending to leave Beijing must submit a negative nucleic acid test certificate issued within seven days of their departure date. The number of visitors allowed in indoor venues such as libraries, museums, and art galleries, as well as parks, will be limited to 30% of capacity. Temperature checks will be conducted at all public places.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
