Beijing Cancels Hundreds Of Flights & Reports 31 New COVID-19 Cases

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The sudden resurgence of locally acquired COVID-19 infections in Beijing over the past week - after a lull of 56 days - has rattled local officials, and has forced them to ratchet up emergency interventions in order to contain its spread.

In recent days scores of fresh markets have either been shut down or closed temporarily for disinfection, a number of city districts and neighborhoods are under special restrictions, most local schools have been shuttered, and hundreds of thousands of PCR tests have been administered. 

While the number of confirmed cases remains relatively low (137 total), if left unchecked this outbreak could quickly grow into a new epidemic, a prospect that has local and national officials responding vigorously.

First a look at the latest daily report from the National Health Commission, then a rundown on some of the steps authorities are taking to try to stop this outbreak.

The latest situation of the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic situation as of 24:00 on June 16

Release time: 2020-06-17 Source: Health Emergency Office

From 0 to 24:00 on June 16, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 44 newly confirmed cases, including 11 imported cases (10 in Gansu and 1 in Sichuan) and 33 local cases (31 cases in Beijing, 1 case in Hebei and 1 case in Zhejiang); no new deaths; 3 new suspected cases, all local cases (all in Beijing).

On the same day, 2 new cases of discharge were cured, 116 close contacts were released from medical observation, and 2 more severe cases.

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China's strategy at this point appears to be two-pronged.  First, prevent the virus from spreading from Beijing to other parts of the country, and second, quash the outbreak in Beijing. 

To the first point, there are numerous media reports indicating that hundreds of daily flights (mostly domestic) - both inbound and outbound - have been cancelled.   This (translated) report from Chinese State media.

A total of 1255 flights were cancelled at the two airports in Beijing

Source: Beijing Youth Daily

Yesterday, Beijing's emergency response level was adjusted to level two. According to the latest data from the housekeeper, as of 9:10 on June 17th, 1255 flights have been cancelled at Beijing Airport; 615 outbound flights have been cancelled, with a cancellation rate of 67.14%, and 640 incoming flights have been cancelled, with a cancellation rate of 68.38%.  

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Ground transportation has also been affected, with cars for hire forbidden from leaving Beijing.

Beijing Municipal Transportation Commission: taxi network can not leave Beijing

2020-06-17 09:46:43 Source: Beijing Daily

RThe reporter learned from the Beijing Municipal Communications Commission that in order to prevent and control the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, stop the spread of the epidemic through taxis (including car-hailing) and ride-hailing, and suspend Beijing taxis (including cruise-cars and internet-hailing) and downwind Car out of Beijing to operate business.

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The second prong - quashing the outbreak - is detailed in the following 15 step plan released overnight (and published widely in Chinese media).

Beijing emergency response level was adjusted to level two to strengthen 15 prevention and control measures

Source: Economic Observation Network

Cheng Luyang, a reporter from the Economic Observation Network, announced at the Beijing Epidemic Prevention and Control Press Conference on the evening of June 16 that Beijing Municipal Deputy Secretary-General Chen Bei announced that the situation of the Beijing epidemic is very serious. The response level of public health emergencies in the city was adjusted to level two.

15 prevention and control measures

After upgrading to the second-level response, the 15 prevention and control measures that must be strengthened include: 

1. Strictly prevent and control measures for farmers' markets, vegetable markets, restaurants, units, canteens, etc., comprehensively standardize the implementation of environmental killings, and strengthen monitoring. All cold and wet underground business sites are closed. Employees of the above business sites must wear Masks and gloves.
2. Strict inspection and quarantine of food at ports, improve the quarantine standards for imported food, and strengthen traceability management.
3. Relevant personnel in the middle and high-risk streets and new markets are strictly prohibited from leaving Beijing. Others insist on not leaving Beijing if necessary, and those who do need to leave Beijing must hold a negative nucleic acid test certificate within 7 days.
4. The closed-end management of the community shall be restored, and measures such as temperature measurement, verification, code inspection and registration shall be implemented before entering. Foreigners and vehicles in communities and villages under the jurisdiction of towns and villages in medium and high-risk streets are prohibited from entering. The communities and villages under the jurisdiction of high-risk streets and towns are fully enclosed and controlled. The personnel can only enter or leave, conduct home observation, and do nucleic acid detection.
5. Adjust the current limiting ratio of public transportation, control the full load rate, implement disinfection and ventilation, physical examination, wearing masks, setting of observation areas, handover of hot passengers and information registration and other prevention and control work.
6. On the basis of the exhaustive inspection of indoor personnel nucleic acid testing, the full coverage of personnel and close contacts in key areas such as Xinfadi, Yuquan East, Tiantao Honglian Market, etc. in the past 14 days, and to expand the scope of testing as needed.
7. Resume online teaching in all grades, and college students stop returning to school.
8. Commercial buildings, supermarkets, hotels, hotels, restaurants, factories, construction sites, various stores and other public places and construction sites need to do body temperature monitoring, daily ventilation and disinfection and health treasure green code inspection. Under the second-level response level, there is no need to stop production and work, but the office building and the arrival rate should be lowered, remote offices, homes and other flexible offices should be encouraged, and peak and peak commuting should be encouraged.
9. Library, museum, art gallery and other indoor public places and park scenic areas limit 30% of the current flow, and implement preventive and control measures such as time-limited reservation and remote control. The indoor and outdoor sports and fitness places shall implement the current-limiting reservation measures, stop the opening of basketball, volleyball, football and other group and antagonistic sports, and close the cultural and entertainment places and underground spaces, sports and fitness places, swimming pools, etc.
10. Implement strict closed management of special institutions such as supervision, old-age care, welfare, mental health, etc., focusing on preventing and controlling imported epidemics and internal disease transmission.
11. Under the conditions of strict implementation of various prevention and control measures, meetings of up to 100 people can be held, or video conferences can be held, and exhibitions, sports events and performances can be stopped.
12. Adhere to the outpatient appointment registration system.
13. Stop the opening of cross-provincial team tourism business in China.
14. Insist on wearing masks scientifically and carry them with you at all times. Professional institutions such as medical and health, public service personnel must wear masks, close contact less than one meter, in a crowded and crowded place, must wear masks.
15. Don't gather dinners and gatherings if necessary, and prevent personnel from getting together. Try to maintain a social distance of more than one meter when carrying out activities. Ventilation should be strengthened in crowded places, and the frequency and scope of cleaning and disinfection should be increased in strict accordance with the specifications.

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While strict, these steps are nowhere near as draconian, or disruptive, as what was ordered in Wuhan City and Hubei province last January and February.  People - for the most part - are still allowed to go to work, many public venues remain open (albeit under lower capacity restrictions), and while modified, life and commerce continues to go on in Beijing.

Whether these measures will be sufficient, only time will tell. Their efforts, however, may be helped by the heatwave currently affecting Beijing, with temperatures rising into the upper 90s. 

Stay tuned.