Residents of Beijing will have to present a negative COVID test to access public places from May 5, authorities in the Chinese capital said on Saturday.
The announcement comes on the first day of a long weekend on Labor Day. Chinese people usually take the opportunity to travel around the country, but this year the worst outbreak of cases since early 2020 is forcing many to stay at home.
Faced with the highly contagious Omicron variant, the Chinese authorities have reinforced their zero COVID policy, carrying out massive screenings and confinements as soon as the first cases appear.
These strict measures have led to a slowdown in the country’s economy and growing frustration among the people.
Beijing announced on Saturday that after these five public holidays, access to public spaces will be further limited.
From May 5, a negative COVID test taken within the past week will be mandatory to enter “many public places and to take public transport”, according to an announcement made on the capital’s WeChat account.
For activities such as sporting events and group travel, participants will also be required to present a negative COVID test taken within the last 48 hours, along with proof that they have been fully vaccinated.
China has recorded more than 10,700 new positive cases across the country, almost all of them in Shanghai, the economic capital.
The number of new cases is however decreasing in this metropolis in the east of the country whose 25 million inhabitants have been undergoing harsh confinement since the beginning of April.
Some face difficulties in accessing food and many fear, if they test positive, to be sent to collective quarantine centers, with very variable comfort.
Shanghai authorities said on Saturday that the new cases were all recorded in people under quarantine or restrictions, suggesting the number of infections is slowing.
They said hundreds of companies on a “whitelist” have returned to work and a thousand more have been cleared to resume operations, according to state media.
In Beijing, the number of new cases rose to 54 on Saturday, according to the National Health Commission.
COVID tests will be free for residents starting Tuesday, state media said.