Beijing in lockdown as China hits COVID-19 case record
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Cases top levels seen when Shanghai was shut down in April
The Associated Press
Posted: November 24, 2022
A man has his throat swabbed at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing on Wednesday. China's latest wave of outbreaks has prompted major cities, including Beijing, to close off populous districts, shut stores and offices, and order factories to isolate their workforces from outside contact. (Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
As cases of COVID-19 hit record daily highs in China, the country is reimposing a range of strict measures under its "zero-COVID" policy, including lockdowns, mass testing and quarantines for anyone suspected of having come into contact with the virus.
Wednesday's 31,444 reported COVID-19 infections broke a record set back on April 13, when Shanghai, a city of 25 million people, was in a two-month lockdown.
The new restrictions cover cities and towns from the southern manufacturing centre of Guangzhou to Beijing in the north.
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While measures imposed in the Chinese capital have been less draconian than in other areas, normal life in the city has been severely disrupted, with no word yet on when restrictions will be lifted.
Along with the closure of hundreds of shops, restaurants, malls and office buildings, residential compounds have been sealed off to different degrees of severity. In some cases, all outside visitors and delivery people are banned, leaving residents to collect items at the gate. Authorities have issued notices asking residents not to leave home unless absolutely necessary or to buy groceries and seek medical help.
Beijing life in lockdown
Workers wearing face masks install metal barriers in a locked-down neighbourhood on Thursday.
Workers wearing face masks install metal barriers in a locked down neighborhood as part of COVID-19 controls in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. China is expanding lockdowns, including in a central city where factory workers clashed this week with police, as its number of COVID-19 cases hit a daily record. (Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
(Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
An epidemic control worker wears a protective suit as he sits in front of a barrier fence in an area under lockdown.
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BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 24: An epidemic control worker wears a protective suit as he guards in front of a barrier fence in an area under lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on November 24, 2022 in Beijing, China. China recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began Wednesday, as authorities stuck to their strict zero tolerance approach to containing the virus with lockdowns, mandatory testing, mask mandates, and quarantines as it struggles to contain outbreaks. In an effort to try to bring rising cases under control, the government last week closed most stores and restaurants for inside dining, switched schools to online studies, and asked people to work from home. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
(Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
A worker in a protective suit sprays disinfectant as residents stand in line for their routine COVID-19 throat swabs at a coronavirus testing site.
A worker in protective suit sprays disinfectant as residents stand in line for their routine COVID-19 throat swabs at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. China is expanding lockdowns, including in a central city where factory workers clashed this week with police, as its number of COVID-19 cases hit a daily record. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
(Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
Security personnel wear masks as they stand outside a luxury department store that remained open in Beijing's central business district.
BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 24: Security guards wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as they guard outside a luxury department store that remained open in the Central Business District on November 24, 2022 in Beijing, China. China recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began Wednesday, as authorities stuck to their strict zero tolerance approach to containing the virus with lockdowns, mandatory testing, mask mandates, and quarantines as it struggles to contain outbreaks. In an effort to try to bring rising cases under control, the government last week closed most stores and restaurants for inside dining, switched schools to online studies, and asked people to work from home. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
(Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
A delivery worker picks up goods at a logistics station of an online grocery platform on Wednesday.
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A delivery worker picks up goods at a logistics station of online grocery platform by Meituan, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Beijing, China November 23, 2022. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters)
(Tingshu Wang/Reuters)
A taxi driver wearing a face mask waits for customers near lines of unused shared bicycles on Wednesday.
A taxi driver wearing a face mask waits for customer, near lines of unused share bicycles in Beijing, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. The ruling Communist Party promised earlier this month to reduce disruptions from its "zero- COVID" strategy by making controls more flexible. But the latest wave of outbreaks is challenging that, prompting major cities including Beijing to close off populous districts, shut stores and offices and ordered factories to isolate their workforces from outside contact. (Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
(Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
People ride bikes on an unusually quiet street on Thursday.
BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 24: People ride bikes on a usually busy street near the Central Business District on November 24, 2022 in Beijing, China. China recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began Wednesday, as authorities stuck to their strict zero tolerance approach to containing the virus with lockdowns, mandatory testing, mask mandates, and quarantines as it struggles to contain outbreaks. In an effort to try to bring rising cases under control, the government last week closed most stores and restaurants for inside dining, switched schools to online studies, and asked people to work from home. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
(Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
A man walks alone up an overpass near a nearly empty street close to the city's business district.
BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 24: A man wears a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as he walks alone up an overpass next to a nearly empty street near the Central Business District on November 24, 2022 in Beijing, China. China recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began Wednesday, as authorities stuck to their strict zero tolerance approach to containing the virus with lockdowns, mandatory testing, mask mandates, and quarantines as it struggles to contain outbreaks. In an effort to try to bring rising cases under control, the government last week closed most stores and restaurants for inside dining, switched schools to online studies, and asked people to work from home. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)