CHINA / SOCIETY
Beijing to test airport staff amid virus resurgence
Published: Dec 29, 2020 10:30 AM

Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport Photo: VCG



Beijing will test all airport staff in the wake of continuous locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the Chinese capital. 

Beijing reported seven more domestic cases on Tuesday, all coming from Shunyi district, bringing the total confirmed cases in the city to 20 since mid-December.

The city has two major airports - Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport. The leading anti-epidemic group from the Beijing Municipal government said the tests will cover all people working at airports.

The two airports are operating normally. Before entering the terminal, staff are required to wear masks and have their QR health code checked.

Beijing Capital International Airport's official website said it offered over 730,000 jobs. 

Before the city announced testing on all airport staff, mass tests were being conducted on all residents in Shunyi district. Beijing's Shunyi district tested more than 1.28 million people for COVID-19 and so far 1.23 million returned negative results.

Chaoyang district also tested nearly 400,000 people. All results came back negative. 

Beijing has entered a state of emergency, officials stressed. While officials urged areas in the capital to conduct tests, they also prompted high-risk people to get vaccinated.

If public venues in Beijing cannot implement their anti-epidemic measures effectively, they will be recorded into the company credit platform, or face punishment if the case is serious, authorities from Beijing's Xicheng district said. 

On Tuesday morning, Xicheng district reported 15 enterprises which failed to implement anti-epidemic measures as required, including a Carrefour branch, some restaurants and real estate agencies. 

Global Times