Beijing battles COVID-19 outbreak

Testing began for 3.8 million Chaoyang district residents Monday, uncovering one confirmed COVID-19 case in the area. On Tuesday, Beijing health officials reported 92 positive tests since the outbreak was discovered last week. The testing range has expanded to cover 90 percent of the capital city’s 21 million residents. The first testing round sparked panic buying as people stockpiled food in case they are subjected to long confinements like residents of Shanghai. For now, schools and stores remain open, but public venues are closed, and a handful of apartment compounds have been quarantined. Officials are discouraging travel.

How are things going in Shanghai? Authorities are starting a three-tier system to allow residents to leave their homes, some after nearly a month of quarantine. Social media videos showed some people leaning out windows to hit pots and pans or sing in protest of being cooped up. They were not allowed to leave their buildings, and many ran short of food and necessities. Authorities deployed drones to tell the quarantined citizens to comply with health orders.

Dig deeper: Read a report from WORLD’s international correspondents on how different countries have responded to the pandemic.