New Wave of Coronavirus Outbreak in Beijing

According to the National Health Commission, after nearly two months of no new local COVID-19 transmissions, Beijing reported 79 fresh cases since June 12, 2020. These cases allegedly emerged from Xinfadi market, the city&rsquos largest wholesale food market, located in the Fengtai district. The market also sells meat and seafood, and has since been shut.

This fresh outbreak has spread to the Hebei and Liaoning provinces, and it seems as though sweeping lockdowns are ready to be re-implemented.

Videos of paramilitary police officers with face masks patrolling the Fengtai district are circulating on social media, and at least 11 residential areas are under lockdown. Temperatures are checked regularly and food and other essential items are being delivered.

Beijing has set up nearly 200 sampling booths as mass nucleic testing was rolled out. According to CNN, Zhang Yuxi, the market's chairman, told the state-run Beijing News on Friday that the virus had been detected on a chopping board used by a seller of imported salmon at the market.