​Beijing issues warning as cases rise

Beijing reported 12 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and three asymptomatic carriers on Saturday, among whom only one was detected in the community level, according to Beijing Municipal Health Commission on Sunday.

The city is facing transmission risk from both domestic and imported sources, said a notice from Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Saturday night.

To effectively curb the risk, residents must adhere to the city's prevention and control measures, it said.

Companies and institutions in Beijing are advised not to hold annual meetings, training, galas, etc. If needed, the meetings should be held online, the notice added.

The urban-rural fringe areas and villages have been ordered to strengthen the screening for people coming from outside. Wedding ceremonies should avoid gatherings, the notice said.

Airports, train stations and other transport junctions will strictly carry out related measures to reduce infection risks.

The notice also said residents in Beijing should not go to places with high or medium transmission risks or that have reported local cases within seven days.

As of Saturday night, Beijing had reported at least 16 infections related to a shopping mall in neighboring Hebei province, Beijing Daily reported.

The outlet - Mingzhu Shopping Mall in Cangzhou city - has been designated as a high-risk area for epidemic control and prevention starting from Thursday, according to local government.

Hebei reported 34 locally transmitted asymptomatic carriers on Saturday, including 10 in Langfang and nine in Cangzhou.

"We should keep a close watch on such places as shopping malls, supermarkets, markets and scenic areas for epidemic prevention and control," a top official in Cangzhou said at a conference on Saturday night.