Dozens of Covid cases linked to Beijing bar

A government spokesman described the outbreak as “ferocious”. All residents living in the area where the bar is located will be tested over the next three days.

The number of infections in the city is low by international standards but high for China, which is the world’s only major economy still maintaining a “zero Covid” policy.

The outbreak was traced to a venue named as the Heaven Supermarket Bar, in the well-known entertainment area of Sanlitun in Chaoyang district. Two buildings housing hundreds of people in Chaoyang were put under strict lockdown on Sunday after a positive case was reported, a residential committee worker told media.

Some people in Beijing said they were sent texts telling them to report to authorities if they had recently visited Sanlitun’s bars. Chinese officials have reversed the relaxation of some Covid rules in Beijing due to the outbreak. Most children in the capital will not return to school next week as originally planned, officials informed.