China reports 57 new cases; Beijing locked down 11 residential communities
KUWAIT, June 14: Chinese health authorities said Sunday 57 additional novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases were confirmed on the Chinese mainland over the past 24 hours. Of the latest cases, 38 were domestically transmitted and 19 were imported, the National Health Commission said in its daily report, carried by Xinhua news agency.
Of the domestically transmitted cases, 36 were reported in Beijing and two in Liaoning Province, the commission elaborated. No deaths related to the infectious respiratory disease were reported over the past 24 hours, according to the commission.
Beijing’s cases all were linked to its largest wholesale food market, which was shut down Saturday, the official China News Service reported, citing the city’s disease control agency. It said 27 worked there and nine had direct or indirect exposure to it.
The Xinfadi market was closed after 50 people tested positive for the virus in the Chinese capital’s first confirmed cases in 50 days.
China, where the pandemic began in December, and other countries that suffered early on including South Korea, Italy and Spain have seen numbers of new infections decline. Brazil, India, the United States and other countries are seeing large increases.
China responded to the outbreak with the world’s most intensive anti-disease controls, isolating cities with some 60 million people and shutting down much of its economy. Those steps were later imitated by some other governments.
The ruling Communist party eased most limits on business and travel after declaring victory over the disease in March. Some curbs still are in place including a ban on most foreign travelers arriving in the country.
On Saturday, authorities in Beijing locked down 11 residential communities near the Xinfadi market. White fencing sealed off a road leading to apartment building. Drivers were required to show identification to enter the area.
