Geneva (AFP)

A hundred new cases of Covid-19 have been identified in Beijing since the disease re-emerged in the Chinese city, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday.

While several European countries reopened their borders on Monday, the WHO warned of a "resurgence" of the coronavirus at the onset of the pandemic.

"Even countries that have demonstrated the ability to suppress the transmission of Covid-19 must remain alert to the possibility of a resurgence" of the virus, warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a virtual press conference.

"Last week, China reported a new outbreak in Beijing, after more than 50 days without any cases in that city. More than 100 cases have now been confirmed. The origin and extent of the epidemic are under investigation, "he added.

Senior WHO official, Maria Van Kerkhove, said: "I understand there have been no deaths associated so far" with this new outbreak.

The new coronavirus appeared to be almost eradicated in China, where it appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, in the center of the country. Until an outbreak was spotted in the capital last week.

The rebound in Beijing, where new cases are linked to a giant Xinfadi market in the south of the city, has led to new confinements of residential areas and additional screenings. Sports and cultural sites have also been closed.

"After more than 50 days without significant local transmission, such an outbreak is of concern. It needs to be investigated and monitored, and that is exactly what the Chinese authorities are doing," said the director of questions. health emergency service, Michael Ryan, alongside the head of the UN specialized agency.

He explained that WHO has a number of epidemiologists who work permanently in the Chinese office of the organization who work daily with Chinese health authorities.

- 'Quick response' -

"We have offered them additional assistance and support (...), and we may be supplementing our national office team with more experts in the coming days as the investigation unfolds" , specified Mr. Ryan.

The senior official explained that when a set of measures is taken quickly, homes are usually contained. "What we like to see is an immediate response and a full set of measures," he said.

"However, Beijing is a big city and a very dynamic and connected city, so there is always a concern. And I think you can see this level of concern in the response from the Chinese authorities," he said, before concluding: "We are following this very closely".

The pandemic of the new coronavirus has killed some 433,500 people worldwide and more than 7.9 million cases of infection have been officially diagnosed, according to a report drawn up by AFP from official sources on Monday.

While "it took more than two months for the first 100,000 cases to be reported, in the past two weeks, more than 100,000 new cases have been reported almost every day," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He pointed out that "almost 75% of recent cases come from ten countries, mainly in the Americas and South Asia", but said that there were "also an increasing number of cases in Africa, in Europe of the 'East, Central Asia and the Middle East'.

© 2020 AFP