People queue for a swab test to be tested for the Covid-19 coronavirus near the entrance of the Forbidden City in Beijing on May 1, 2022. Photo: CFP

 
The city of Beijing will conduct another three rounds of mass testing in 11 major administrative districts and the Yizhuang economic development zone in the three days starting Tuesday, to curb the spread of COVID-19 as epidemic control in the Chinese capital remains at "a critical stage."

Li Ang, a spokesperson from the Beijing Health Commission, announced the above decision at a press conference on Monday. He said that since April 25, the city has carried out several rounds of nucleic acid screening, which has played an important role in detecting hot spots, controlling risks, and blocking the spread of the epidemic.

Beijing, which has already conducted three rounds of testing in COVID-hit regions from April 25 to 29 and in major districts like Chaoyang and Haidian, reported 50 infections on Monday, including 41 confirmed cases and nine silent carries, according to the Beijing Health Commission.  

Since April 22, Beijing has recorded a total of 400 COVID-19 cases in 14 districts, including 156 in Chaoyang district and 103 in Fangshan district, the health authority said. 

Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), said the CDC has summarized the characteristics of new infections, including having meals with others during an infectious period; not being vaccinated; and participating in a wide range of activities that led to community spread.

To prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, Beijing tightened controls during the May Day holiday. Beijing's cultural relics authority issued a notice on Monday, saying all indoor exhibition halls for museums should be closed immediately in order to prevent the risk of cluster infections.

The Palace Museum said on Monday that it will close all its indoor exhibition halls from Tuesday in accordance with the requirements of the capital's epidemic prevention and control orders.

The Beijing National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, announced in a notice that it would be fully closed to the public from Sunday, including tours and the newly opened winter Olympics experience.

Beijing reopened the Xiaotangshan makeshift hospital on Sunday to treat asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and mild cases amid the latest Omicron flare-up. 

Global Times