The British variant of the coronavirus, much more contagious than the SARS-CoV-2 virus was, now affects around sixty countries, according to the World Health Organization.
China is not spared.
An outbreak of contagion discovered in the southern suburbs of Beijing includes two cases of the new variant of British origin.
Even if China had already reported this English variant at the end of December in a student who arrived in Shanghai (east) from the United Kingdom, these cases discovered in the district of Daxing in the southern suburbs of Beijing are the first reported in the capital which has 21 million inhabitants.
As usual in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus, Beijing has just announced the strict containment of five residences in Daxing.
A measure that concerns a few tens of thousands of people while the epidemic remains largely under control for the moment in the rest of the capital.
Closed schools
In this neighborhood, anyone who still wishes to leave the city will have to request a special authorization and present a negative test for the new coronavirus carried out during the last three days.
In addition, gatherings of more than 50 people are temporarily prohibited as are wedding ceremonies.
Finally Beijing has decided to close schools from kindergarten to college.
More broadly, the increase in contaminations, 103 cases, in the country which has already led the authorities to re-enclose provinces and carry out massive screening worries the authorities as the Chinese New Year holidays approach from February 11 to 17, which entails significant movements of people within the country.
These latter outbreaks were recorded in particular in the provinces of Hebei (north), Jilin and Heilongjiang (north-east).
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