A community worker guides residents for nucleic acid test in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, May 7, 2022. Photo: Xinhua

 
Chaoyang district in Beijing said it will reduce or exempt six months worth of rent for small, medium and micro-sized service enterprises and individual businesses that rent state-owned properties in 2022, a move aimed at relieving the burden on businesses experiencing hardship during the epidemic.

The announcement released on Monday is a part of a notification which encourages residents in the district to work from home.

Chaoyang district said landlords of non-state-owned properties are encouraged to appropriately reduce or exempt rents as well.

Meanwhile, the local government said it has purchased insurance for resumption of work and production, and those small and micro service enterprises that suspend production can apply for insurance compensation and will be compensated at 100 yuan ($14.9) per person per day for a maximum of 21 days.

Chaoyang district, which has reported the most cases in Beijing in the latest round of epidemic flare-up, raised the level of prevention and control measures in the district on Sunday, including increasing the frequency of testing for people subject to home quarantine. The government also called on residents to not leave the district unless necessary.

All indoor sports and fitness venues, public baths, KTV, internet cafes, bars, cinemas, libraries, art galleries and museums in Chaoyang district are temporarily closed.

Over the past weekend, Beijing reported a total of 137 domestically transmitted COVID-19 infections.

Global Times