At present, COVID-19 is continuing its spread overseas, and it is difficult to control the global outbreak in the short term. Overseas imports remain the biggest risk of infections in Beijing. On June 11, Beijing had local cases after 57 days without any newly confirmed cases. As of June 15 by midnight, 116 cases of positive tests were reported, including 106 confirmed cases and 10 asymptomatic infections. Epidemiologically, all cases were directly or indirectly linked to the Xinfadi Agricultural Wholesale Market. It has been preliminarily determined that this cluster of cases was spread from person to person or caused via contaminated surfaces, and there is clear secondary infections among close contacts. This has once again been a wake-up call for us. We must take the initiative and take decisive measures to resolutely control this growing outbreak and resolutely curb the spread of the coronavirus in the city and beyond. In view of this, Beijing has adjusted the response to level II from level III on the evening of June 16.
The main prevention and control measures strengthened under the level-II response are the following:
01. Strictly enforce anti-epidemic measures at farmers’ markets, vegetable markets, restaurants, canteens, and other places, comprehensively standardize environmental cleaning and strengthen monitoring, and close all cold, damp underground business places. Relevant personnel in these places must wear masks and gloves.
02. Strictly inspect and quarantine food at ports, improve quarantine standards for imported food, and strengthen traceability.
03. Relevant personnel in middle- and high-risk areas and the Xinfadi market are prohibited from leaving Beijing, and other residents are advised not to leave unless necessary. Those who need to leave Beijing must provide a negative nucleic acid test taken within the past 7 days.
04. Restore closed-off management of communities and implement measures such as temperature checks, ID verification, health code checks, and registration before entry. Outside persons and vehicles are prohibited from entering communities (villages) under the jurisdiction of medium- and high-risk subdistricts (towns and townships). The communities (villages) under the jurisdiction of high-risk subdistricts (towns and townships) must be fully closed-off and controlled. Residents may enter but not leave and must stay at home for self-observation and receive nucleic acid testing.
05. Adjust public transportation volume, and implement prevention and control work such as disinfection, ventilation, body temperature checks, masks, observation areas, transfer of passengers with fever, and information registration.
06. Conduct nucleic acid testing on workers and close contacts who have been to key areas such as Xinfadi, Yuquandong, Tiantao Honglian markets in the past 14 days, and expand testing.
07. Resume online classes for all grades and suspend college classes.
08. Public places including office buildings, businesses, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, factories, construction sites, and stores, as well as fitness places, must do body temperature checks, daily ventilation and disinfection, and health “green code” checks. The level II emergency response does not require stopping work or production and encourages flexible working options such as working remotely or from home as well as commuting at off-peak hours.
09. Indoor public spaces and scenic spots such as libraries, museums, and art galleries must implement preventive and control measures such as time-limited reservations and online services. Indoor and outdoor sports and fitness places must implement time-limited reservations. Basketball, volleyball, soccer, and other group and contact sports are canceled. Cultural and entertainment venues and underground spaces for sports and fitness centers and swimming pools must be closed.
10. Strictly implement closed-off management of special institutions such as supervision, pension, welfare, and mental health.
11. Under strict implementation of prevention and control measures, meetings of up to 100 people or video conferences can be held. Exhibitions, sports events, and performances are canceled.
12. Adhere to the registration system for outpatient appointments.
13. Stop tour group travel across provinces, regions, and municipalities directly under the central government.
14. Insist on the scientific argument of wearing masks and carry a mask with you. Professional institutions such as medical and health and public service personnel must wear a mask. A mask must be worn in close contact within less than 1 meter and in a crowded or closed space.
15. Gatherings should be avoided and people should try to maintain a social distance of more than 1 meter when carrying out activities. In crowded places, ventilation should be strengthened and the frequency and scope of cleaning and disinfection should be increased in strict accordance with the regulations.
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