Vice premier urges decisive measures as Beijing cluster grows

Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan called for resolute and decisive measures in Beijing to avoid further spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while attending a meeting held by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council on Sunday.

Containing the epidemic at the source is essential, Sun said, urging comprehensive moves to trace the origin of the virus.

Meanwhile, she supported Beijing's efforts to increase its nucleic acid testing capacity, so as to cover all key areas and communities.

Without having full knowledge of the mutation of the virus, Sun underlined the arduous tasks for regular epidemic prevention and control, demanding continuous measures to guard against imported cases and prevent a resurgence of the outbreak at home.

Part of Beijing's Fengtai District upgrades risk level to highest

Eight new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Beijing from midnight Saturday to 7 a.m. on Sunday, according to officials at a press conference.

Seven of the new cases were confirmed to be related to Xinfadi, a large wholesale market of fruits, vegetables and meat, while one case is currently under epidemiological investigation, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chinese capital on Friday reported six new confirmed cases. On Saturday, the figure climbed to 36, along with one new asymptomatic case. Officials said the 36 confirmed cases were all related to Xinfadi market.

(Cover: People take nucleic acid samples at a stadium in Beijing, China, June 14, 2020./VCG)