China Imposes Covid-19 Lockdown On Beijing

Millions of people in areas around China’s capital were forced into lockdown Tuesday, with authorities doubling efforts to contain Covid-19 ahead of a key ruling Communist Party meeting this year.

Nearly four million people in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, were ordered to stay home till the end of the week as officials hurry to battle a small virus flare-up.

And more than 13 million in the neighbouring port city of Tianjin must undergo mass testing from 6am, after 51 mostly mild cases were recorded.

Beijing has doubled down on the policy ahead of the Communist Party’s 20th National Congress, expected to take place within the next three months.

The handling of the pandemic is widely seen as central to the political legacy of President Xi Jinping, who is ready to be anointed for an unprecedented third term in office at the meeting.

However, “the actual Covid situation in China might be worsening, as Omicron has once again spread to large cities”, Nomura analyst Ting Lu stated in a research note.