Parts of Beijing go under lockdown as fresh coronavirus clusters appear
Parts of Beijing go under lockdown as fresh coronavirus clusters appear
AFP
LatestWorld

Parts of Beijing were locked-down as fresh cluster of coronavirus cases linked to a nearby meat market appeared in the city.

Parts of Beijing were locked-down as fresh cluster of coronavirus cases linked to a nearby meat market appeared in the city.

Seven cases have so far been linked to Xinfadi meat market, six of them confirmed, officials said. Nine nearby schools and kindergartens have been closed.

China reported 11 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, including six domestic cases in the capital that raised concerns about a resurgence.

The majority of China’s cases in recent months were overseas nationals tested as they returned home, with the domestic outbreak brought largely under control after the disease first emerged in the central city of Wuhan last year.

But the new cases have prompted Beijing officials to delay the return of students to primary schools, and suspend all sporting events and group dining.

The chairman of the Xinfadi meat wholesale market told state-run Beijing Newsthat the virus was detected on chopping boards used to handle imported salmon.

Major supermarket chains including Wumart and Carrefour removed all stocks of salmon overnight in the capital, but said supplies of other products would not be affected, Beijing Daily reported Saturday.

AFP reporters saw dozens of police officers deployed at the two markets.

The novel coronavirus is believed to have jumped from an animal to humans at a Wuhan market that sold wildlife.

The first new case in Beijing after two months — who had no recent travel history outside the city — was reported on Thursday, and authorities confirmed two more infections the next day.

The other five cases reported Saturday were brought in from overseas.