Photo taken inside Beijing West Railway Station on August 1st. Photo: CFP

A number of pubs and bars in Beijing have cancelled night events and shows, as the capital city has strengthened anti-coronavirus efforts to stem a new wave of Delta variant outbreak.

School, a well-known bar located in Beijing's downtown Dongcheng district, announced that starting from Wednesday, it is no longer open to the public in response to requests from Beijing authorities to reduce risk of community transmissions.

All live shows at the bar, including performance by bands such as Tong Ma, Hidden Power and Insulators, have been cancelled. 

A staff member of the Beijing VICS bar told the Global Times on Wednesday that the latest flare-up has delayed the bar's opening hours from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am. Customers are asked to take the initiative in presenting their green health code and using disinfection when entering the venue.

Meanwhile, the National Centre for the Performing Arts announced on Wednesday that it has cancelled upcoming performances and artistic activities, in accordance with the requirements of Beijing's virus prevention and control. 

Individuals who purchased tickets can apply for a refund from now until December 31, 2021 using the platforms where they purchased tickets.

A total of 19 coronavirus cases in Beijing have been reported as of Wednesday. Xu Hejian, spokesperson from the Beijing municipal government, said at a briefing on Tuesday that Beijing will strictly control commercial cultural events, conferences and personnel training courses amongst other activities. Citizens are asked to take the initiative in taking appropriate protection measures and avoiding large gatherings. 

Global Times