BEIJING, Aug 6 (Reuters) – Beijing authorities ordered mass testing in its most populous district, Chaoyang, from Saturday to Tuesday after detecting the Omicron subvariant BA.5.2, which is more transmissible than its predecessors..
The order, published on Saturday by the Chaoyang district government, requires all residents to undergo three rounds of PCR tests within three days. The first round of tests began on Saturday morning..
The subvariant BA.5.2 has been detected in several other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. It is more transmissible than the original Omicron variant, which caused a surge in cases in Beijing in April and May..
The Chaoyang district is home to nearly 3.5 million people and is a major business and diplomatic hub. The district includes the popular Sanlitun shopping and entertainment area, as well as the embassies of several countries..
Beijing has been on high alert for new COVID-19 cases since the end of July, when a cluster of cases was detected in the city’s Fengtai district. The city has since reported dozens of new cases each day, and has imposed a series of measures to contain the spread of the virus, including closing some public venues and suspending some public transport services..
The mass testing order in Chaoyang is the latest in a series of measures taken by Beijing authorities to control the spread of the virus. The city has also ordered mass testing in other districts, including Xicheng and Dongcheng, in recent weeks..
Beijing has also stepped up its vaccination campaign in recent weeks. As of Friday, more than 97% of Beijing’s population had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19..
The city is also preparing for a possible surge in cases in the coming weeks, as students return to school and people return to work after the summer holidays. Beijing has set up a number of makeshift hospitals and isolation facilities to accommodate any increase in cases..
The mass testing order in Chaoyang is a sign that Beijing authorities are taking the threat of the BA.5.2 subvariant seriously. The city is likely to continue to impose strict measures to contain the spread of the virus in the coming weeks and months..
