1200 Flights Cancelled with fears over new virus outbreak

Amid fear over new virus outbreak, at least 1,255 scheduled flights cancelled from Beijing’s main airports.

Authorities rushed to contain a new coronavirus outbreak linked to Xinfadi a wholesale food market. The capital reported fresh new 31 cases in a single day.

With concerns growing about the second wave of coronavirus infections in China, which had largely brought its outbreak under control, the authorities had urged residents to stay at home. Moreover, the government cancelled flights.

The outbreak had already forced authorities to declare a travel ban for residents of “medium- or high-risk” areas of city while requiring other residents to take nucleic acid tests to leave the capital city.

The city has now recorded 137 infections over the past week, with six new asymptomatic cases and three suspected cases on Wednesday.

According to the municipal health commission an additional two domestic cases, one in neighboring Hebei province and another in Zhejiang, reported, while 11 imported cases also emerged.

The country had eased much of its anti-coronavirus measures in recent months as the government all but declared victory against the disease that emerged in the central city of Wuhan late last year.

Beijing officials closed 11 markets and disinfected 276 agricultural markets and 33,000 food and beverage businesses.