Mass testing underway in Urumqi as virus flares

Beijing lowers response

The Beijing municipal government announced on Sunday that the emergency response level in the city will be lowered to the third level starting from Monday after reporting no new infections for 13 consecutive days.

The capital activated the second level of response in a four-tier system on June 16 following the detection of a new outbreak linked to a major wholesale food market. A total of 335 confirmed cases were reported during the outbreak.

Chen Bei, deputy secretary-general of the city government, said at a news conference that there is no high-risk area in Beijing and only one at medium risk. "The epidemic situation is stable and controllable, and has met the requirements for downgrading response levels," she said.

Public facilities including parks, tourist sites and sports venues across the city can reopen at 50 percent of daily visitor capacity, Chen said.