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

 Apart from suspending selling railway tickets to people from medium- or high-risk regions or with a travel history in those regions within 14 days, Beijing has tightened epidemic prevention and control measures for rail passengers and restricted outbound travel from the capital to strengthen the "safety barrier" against the COVID-19 epidemic.

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Beijing officials announced several anti-epidemic measures for in and outbound rail travels in accordance with the professional guidelines of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

People from low-risk regions within cities where the medium- or high-risk regions are located are also discouraged to visit Beijing, officials said.

Railway staff will check the temperatures of passengers entering Beijing and check their health codes. People without a green health code will not be allowed to board trains to Beijing.  

On the train, rail attendants will strengthen ticket verification and before the train enters Beijing, the health codes of all incoming and returning passengers will be checked again. Temperatures will be taken after the train arrives in Beijing. 

In order to reduce the risk of the epidemic spread, all rail passengers should be seated properly, wear masks throughout the journey and reduce walking, said the press conference.

Beijing residents who live or work in units where confirmed cases have been reported are not allowed to leave the city, and people from those areas who really need to leave Beijing are requested to hold a green health code and have had negative nucleic acid testing in the 48 hours prior to the travel.

Staff members of Party and government organs and state-owned enterprises and institutions in Beijing are not allowed to travel to medium- or high-risk areas and cities where the risk areas are located.

Passengers who cannot purchase tickets to Beijing or believe their health codes are incorrect, can report through the hotlines of the railway department. Ticket purchase restriction can be lifted after the travel history has been verified and their health codes are green again, officials said. 

Travelers should inform their workplace or residence before their trip, undergo a 14-day health monitoring period and take a nucleic acid test on their day of arrival and another on their seventh day in Beijing.

Beijing has locked down six residential communities in its northwestern district of Haidian since August 2 after finding one positive COVID-19 case there. No new cases were reported over the weekend in the city.

Global Times