Photo:VCG

Beijing is facing dual COVID-19 risks from domestic flare-up and raging Omicron variant overseas and must strictly adhere to a dynamic zero policy as Chinese New Year and the Beijing Winter Olympics approach, the Beijing government announced on Friday. 

Xu Hejian, spokesperson from the Beijing government, said at Friday's media briefing that Beijing had revised its COVID-19 prevention and control measures, calling on residents to spend the upcoming holidays -- New Year's Day and Spring Festival in Beijing. The new measures mandate in cases of locally-transmitted infections in Beijing, residents in the district where reported cases occur are not allowed to leave the capital other than for essential reasons, Xu said. 

Xu emphasized that the Beijing government encourages companies to adopt flexible work hours and assist employees to avoid leaving or entering Beijing during peak periods. 

Anyone returning Beijing is required to present negative nucleic acid testing result issued within 48 hours and a green health code.

Beijing also announced the limiting of family gatherings to 10 people, and strictly controlling national conferences and training events held in the city. 

Parks, scenic spots, libraries, museums and café bars will remain open at 75 percent capacity, while religious venues will require visitors to provide real-name reservation and health checks. 

Beijing will also tighten management of inter-provincial and local groups tours, which will be suspended during the holidays, Xu said. 

Beijing's new measures came after Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, imposed citywide lockdown on its 13 million residents on Thursday, after a rapid surge of cases this week. 

The Xi'an outbreak has spilled over into at least four other cities, including Yan'an, Xianyang in Shaanxi Province, Dongguan in South China's Guangdong Province, and Beijing. 

As of late Thursday, Xi'an had reported 234 cases since December 9. 

Global Times