Beijing Lifts Covid Curbs As Mainland Logs 86 Cases

Mainland health authorities reported 86 new local coronavirus cases on Monday, as Beijing lifted Covid restrictions in most areas.

Of the latest infections, the National Health Commission said 25 showed symptoms, while 61 were asymptomatic.

Beijing reported five symptomatic cases and one asymptomatic infection, while Shanghai logged four cases with symptoms and four without. There were no new Covid-related deaths.

The capital has resumed public transport services and allowed workers to return to their offices.

Restaurants are also allowed to resume dine-in services, as long as patrons can show a negative PCR test result from the past 72 hours.

Fengtai district and some parts of Changping, however, are still subject to Covid restrictions.

Over in Shanghai, authorities said residents are allowed to take public transport and enter public venues with a 24-hour PCR test certificate showing that they have undergone coronavirus screening, even if they do not have an official result.

The certificate provides an alternative for those who have not received their nucleic acid test results on time. The financial hub requires residents to have a negative PCR test result within 72 hours to access public venues or transportation.

Shaun Rein, Founder and Managing Director of the China Market Research Group, who's based in Shanghai, said the lifting of the lockdown got off to a shaky start.

“That first day took me an hour to find a [testing] station that was actually open...It caused a lot of panic and a lot of frustration around June 1 because we just couldn't get tested,” he said.

“But actually over the last couple of days – you have to give credit to the Shanghai authorities – they've made it a lot easier. They've now opened up around 15,000 of these kiosks where you can get tested. They're opening more and more all over the city."

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