Beijing Club-Origin Cluster Infection of 228 People... China’s Epidemic Prevention Back on Alert

Most Club Visitors Not Wearing Masks
Stricter Quarantine Measures Expected to Be Reimposed

The scene of Beijing, China on October 23 last year / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] As the number of cluster infections originating from clubs in Beijing, China, exceeded 200, a red light has been turned on again for China's quarantine efforts.

On the 13th, the Chinese National Health Commission announced that 51 additional infections linked to clubs in Beijing were confirmed the previous day. The total number of club-related infections has now risen to 228 as of 3 p.m. on the 13th. Since the first confirmed cases on the 9th with 8 infections, the numbers have continued to increase with 61 on the 10th and 65 on the 11th.

All infected individuals are known to have either visited a club in Chaoyang District or had close contact with visitors to the club. By category, there are 180 club guests, 4 club employees, and 44 close contacts. With the additional confirmed cases, the total number of close contacts has increased by 2,457 to 8,615. According to the quarantine authorities' investigation, most club visitors on the 6th, when the initial infection occurred, were not wearing masks.

Beijing city has sealed off the residential complexes where infections occurred and is conducting once-daily PCR tests for residents of those complexes. Chaoyang District, where the most club-related infections have been reported, will conduct PCR testing for all residents once daily for three consecutive days starting from this day.

China had eased quarantine measures equivalent to semi-lockdown that had lasted over a month on the 6th, but it appears that quarantine will be strengthened again due to the club-related infection outbreak. The reopening of elementary, middle, and high schools as well as kindergartens, which was scheduled for this day, has been postponed again, and major tourist sites have suspended operations since the previous day. The operation of entertainment and leisure facilities such as clubs, karaoke rooms, and PC bangs has already been suspended since the 9th.