Covid-19 second wave prompts partial lockdown in Beijing

A second wave of Covid-19 has shut down a market in Beijing after dozens of people tested positive in the past two days.

The capital is now in ’emergency mode’ according to city government spokesperson Xu Hejian after 36 new cases were recorded on Saturday.

"Beijing has entered an extraordinary period," Xu said.

The cluster is all linked to the Xinfadi market and  following mass testing, all are asymptomatic carriers.

These are the first confirmed cases in the city for two months.

Eleven residential districts around the market have been locked down including the closure of schools.

The Beijing government has also suspended sports events and group tours.

"People who are running back and forth in Xinfadi market could be the sources," said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese CDC.

"Another possibility is seafood and other meat products imported from other countries or places brought the virus into the market," he added.

The source is thought to be from salmon, which is imported from Chile, Norway, Faroe Islands, Australia and Canada.

Tests are now being conducting on more than 10,000 people connected to the market, which is one of the largest in Asia.

According to China Global Television Network, it covers more than one million square metres and supplies about 80% of all of Beijing’s farm produce.