In Beijing, “sealed” areas and “control and prevention” spaces against Omicron

Covid-19 screening container in Beijing.

© RFI

Text by: Stéphane Lagarde Follow

7 mins

Chinese health authorities reported 6,886 new local cases of Covid-19 for Monday, March 29, including 4,477 in Shanghai, under a bell jar while testing the population.

Tests also in Beijing, which is barricading itself against the Omicron wave.  

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From our correspondent in Beijing, with

,

Three days without a single case of contamination and now business is picking up for the private screening centers installed on every street corner in the Chinese capital.

On this early morning in the rain, the silhouettes in umbrellas seem to be magnetized by a large blue and white container placed on a sidewalk in the business district.

The link serves as a screening booth.

Three windows are cut in the sheet metal: one to register, the second to pay for the service, the third to open your mouth in front of the swab held out by a gloved hand. 

Covid-19 screening tent in Beijing.

© RFI

Wrong place at the wrong time 

“When the number of infections was at its highest in mid-March, we had fewer people,”

explains an agent in a protective suit at one of the counters.

“ 

continues the latter behind his mask and his plexiglass visor.

A PCR for business trips and for trips in reality, any exit from Beijing requiring to go through the glottis scraping box.

The pre-departure test reassures the health authorities of the destination city.

Same thing to come back, unless you had the misfortune to pass through a district where only one case has been reported.

In this case, you will have to wait at least 14 days before being able to show your credentials, in this case a green health pass which serves as a sesame on your return to the capital.

At noon the umbrellas are folded up and the queue is gone.

Only a few onlookers in a hurry take advantage of lunchtime to get tested.

A somewhat embarrassed manager dodges the questions:

he says.

Except that in the Covid-19 period, big data does not forget you.

Next !

Now it's a young woman who comes forward in front of one of the counters:

she says.

The purchase of tablets against fever triggers the alarm on health QR codes, the same thing for passing through a risk zone.

explains a forty-something.

Betrayed by his smartphone which alerts the health committees of your passage in a risk zone.

An employee of a state media experienced the same misfortune.

Six days ago, a positive case passed through a subway station she uses every day to get to the office.

As a precaution, his company asked him to telecommute from home for a week.

Others, to avoid unpleasant surprises, check the plan of the risk areas before going out, hoping to avoid being confined. 

Maps of risk areas (screenshot).

© RFI

“ 

Sealed

 ” zone, “control” zone and “ 

prevention 

”   zone

On the map of Beijing on Tuesday, five "sealed" places were pointed in red - two residences, two primary schools and four hospitals - These are medium and high risk areas, sometimes surrounded by sheet metal palisades to better control them. the accesses.

Residents are confined to their homes, a supply service is organized.

Those who need to go out for medical care can do so in specific vehicles and under " 

 " management, specify the new rules of the

strategy adapted to Omicron.

Sanitary tests are carried out on the 1st, 4ᵉ and 7ᵉ day of confinement.

Release coming after 14 days with no new confirmed or asymptomatic cases.

On the map this afternoon, a dozen places in orange.

These are the so-called “ 

 ” areas, where close contact cases have been reported.

Workplace, homes, all colleagues or close neighbors are invited to stay at home.

Unlike the red zones, the latter can go out every two days to buy basic necessities.

And here too, the lifting of containment also comes after 14 days without new cases of infections in the area.

Finally, this Tuesday, on the map of Beijing, there were also so-called “ 

 ” spaces in blue, where gatherings are limited.

In the case of shopping malls, meals are generally prohibited inside restaurants and entertainment venues are closed.

This strategy would have enabled the Dongcheng district to contain the epidemic.

An extinction of the infectious focus celebrated with fanfare on Monday March 28.

"

 " said the documentary " 

 ", produced by the Communist Party District Propaganda Department and Beijing Radio.

Covid-19 screening container in Beijing, China.

© RFI

This does not prevent certain areas from remaining under closed management and the inhabitants from being tested.

The arrival of Omicron this winter caused private screening centers to grow like mushrooms.

200 meters from the white and blue container, on the same street, two officers in full protective suits welcome you.

As everywhere, the single price of 35 yuan (about 5 euros) is applied.

explains an employee of a cleaning company.

she adds.

A more and more discussed opinion.

Supermarkets, bakeries, real estate agencies, fast food chain, bookstore: more than a hundred businesses had to suspend their activity in six districts of the capital for lack of rigor in the fight against the epidemic, 

. 

  ?

asks a taxi driver.

Due to travel restrictions and quarantines, he says he hasn't seen his parents for two years.  

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