Beijing Authorities Report Nine New Covid-19 Cases

Beijing's municipal health authority reported on Monday nine new cases of the coronavirus in the city.

The National Health Commission said across the nation 18 new coronavirus cases have been reported.

This compared with 26 confirmed cases a day earlier, 22 of which were in Beijing.

Local authorities are restricting movement of people in the capital and stepping up other measures to prevent the virus from spreading following a series of local infections.

Another seven asymptomatic Covid-19 patients, those who are infected but show no symptoms, were reported as of June 21 compared with six a day earlier. The mainland does not count these patients as confirmed cases.

The authorities have stepped up its oversight of imported foods after a new cluster of coronavirus cases were linked to a sprawling wholesale food market in the capital just over a week ago.

Beijing began testing meat, seafood and fresh produce for the coronavirus last week and some ports were opening all containers of meat to carry out coronavirus tests.

On Friday, customs asked food exporters to sign a declaration that their produce is not contaminated by the virus. (Reuters)