July 7

Health officials in the Chinese cities of Beijing and Xi'an are stepping up measures to contain outbreaks of the coronavirus as new cases of the Omicron subvariant BA.5 were successively confirmed this week.

Officials in Beijing said three people who tested positive for the coronavirus were confirmed infected with BA.5. Authorities are urging residents to get vaccinated as only the vaccinated will be allowed to enter crowded venues such as museums, movie theaters and gyms from next Monday.

Officials in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, have confirmed about 30 new cases of the coronavirus so far this month, which included the BA.5 subvariant.

Consequently, they took measures for the entire city to close entertainment venues and suspend dining at restaurants for a week from Wednesday. Pre-schools as well as elementary and middle schools are starting their summer break early in an effort to contain outbreaks.

Xi'an's authorities imposed a strict lockdown after the COVID-19 variant spread in the city from December last year to January this year.

NHK