But that second wave soon abated as Beijing acted quickly with targeted lockdowns and other measures. The Chinese capital saw a total of some 330 cases linked to the Xinfadi market outbreak at the end of the month when daily cases fell to single digits.
China, on the other hand, saw its economy grow by a surprising 3.2 per cent in the second quarter, and is likely to register a slight growth for the year. When the first case at Xinfadi was detected on June 11, Beijing swiftly closed the market, which houses some 8,000 stallholders and workers and is visited by thousands more daily. It also sealed off neighborhoods near the market, and others thought to be at risk – 41 of the city’s 7,000 neighborhoods in all.
All close contacts of confirmed cases were taken to centralized isolation sites, while self-isolation was imposed on those living in the 41 neighborhoods deemed to be at risk. Shops and restaurants were next to reopen in March, with social distancing rules. Cinemas will reopen next week.