A person passes by Heaven Supermarket bar, which has been closed, in Beijing on June 9. Photo: CFP

The bulk of bars in Beijing were closed again as of Sunday after two days of operation, as the capital strengthened anti-epidemic measures again amid increasing COVID-19 cases related a bar cluster, which spilled over to other districts of the city.

A staff member from 13CLUB, a nightclub located in Beijing’s Chaoyang district, told the Global Times on Sunday that all bars in the district were closed to the public starting on Thursday, in accordance with anti-epidemic requirements from local authorities.

Another bar named MODU confirmed to the Global Times that all bars in Chaoyang district have been closed, after the local authorities announced on Thursday that the city would suspend operations of all entertainment venues, as COVID-19 flare-ups bite.

“A large number of bars in Haidian district have also suspended operation, and they won't reopen until they get government notification,” an employee from SOUNDCHECK CLUB said on Sunday, noting that few places in the district are still open, with stricter epidemic prevention measures.

After contacting the pub, the Global Times learned that only one of its branches was still open, but with less traffic these days. “Negative results for nucleic acid tests obtained within 72 hours are required to enter the venues, and customers should wear masks at all times at the venues,” the employee said.

Xu Hejian, a spokesman for the Beijing municipal government, said that the severity of the cluster infections from the Chaoyang bar is deemed larger than the worst one involving the Xinfadi wholesale market, warning of risks of more spillovers.

As of 3 pm on Sunday, the city had reported a total of 166 infections related to the bar outbreak, covering 14 districts and the economic-technological development area. 

Global Times