<p> Restaurants across Beijing will temporarily ban dining in and residents will need clear Covid tests to visit public spaces, officials said Saturday, in a major ramp-up of virus controls at the start of the Labour Day holiday.</p>.<p>The five-day break is typically one of China's busiest travel periods, but the country's worst Covid resurgence since early in the pandemic is expected to keep people home.</p>.<p>Faced with the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Chinese officials have doubled down on their zero-Covid policy, quashing virus clusters through mass testing and lockdowns.</p>.<p>Despite mounting economic costs and public frustration, the capital city announced it would further restrict access to public spaces during and after the holiday period.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/china-factory-activity-dips-to-lowest-in-two-years-1105262.html">China factory activity dips to lowest in two years</a></strong></p>.<p>From May 1 to 4, the city's eateries will halt dining-in, and only allow deliveries, local commerce official Ding Jianhua told a press briefing Saturday.</p>.<p>Authorities also said they have so far prepared 4,000 makeshift hospital beds -- typically used for patients with light or no Covid symptoms -- and are speeding up the set-up of larger quarantine sites.</p>.<p>A negative Covid test taken within the past week will also be needed starting May 5 to enter "all kinds of public areas and to take public transport", according to a notice on the city's official WeChat page.</p>.<p>For activities such as sporting events and group travel, participants will also need to show a negative Covid test taken within 48 hours, along with proof of "full vaccination," according to the new rules.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/covid-hit-beijing-keeps-up-guard-in-fear-of-shanghai-like-misery-1104600.html">Covid-hit Beijing keeps up guard in fear of Shanghai-like misery</a></strong></p>.<p>China reported more than 10,700 domestic Covid cases on Saturday, with the most in economic engine Shanghai.</p>.<p>The eastern metropolis has been sealed off for around a month after becoming the epicentre of the latest outbreak.</p>.<p>Cases are trending downwards, yet frustration and anger are boiling in the city of 25 million where many have been ordered to stay at home for several weeks.</p>.<p>Shanghai officials said Saturday that its new cases were all found among quarantined or restricted groups -- signalling that community infections could be slowing.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-logs-3303-new-covid-19-cases-39-more-deaths-1104597.html">India logs 3,303 new Covid-19 cases, 39 more deaths</a></strong></p>.<p>They added that hundreds of companies on a "whitelist" have resumed work, with around 1,000 firms allowed to restart operations too, state media said.</p>.<p>In Beijing, cases nudged up to 54, according to the National Health Commission.</p>.<p>As the long holiday started, consumers in the capital were asked to show proof of negative Covid tests -- within 48 hours -- to enter public areas such as malls, shops and scenic spots.</p>.<p>The city will make Covid testing free for residents starting Tuesday, authorities said.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p> Restaurants across Beijing will temporarily ban dining in and residents will need clear Covid tests to visit public spaces, officials said Saturday, in a major ramp-up of virus controls at the start of the Labour Day holiday.</p>.<p>The five-day break is typically one of China's busiest travel periods, but the country's worst Covid resurgence since early in the pandemic is expected to keep people home.</p>.<p>Faced with the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Chinese officials have doubled down on their zero-Covid policy, quashing virus clusters through mass testing and lockdowns.</p>.<p>Despite mounting economic costs and public frustration, the capital city announced it would further restrict access to public spaces during and after the holiday period.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/china-factory-activity-dips-to-lowest-in-two-years-1105262.html">China factory activity dips to lowest in two years</a></strong></p>.<p>From May 1 to 4, the city's eateries will halt dining-in, and only allow deliveries, local commerce official Ding Jianhua told a press briefing Saturday.</p>.<p>Authorities also said they have so far prepared 4,000 makeshift hospital beds -- typically used for patients with light or no Covid symptoms -- and are speeding up the set-up of larger quarantine sites.</p>.<p>A negative Covid test taken within the past week will also be needed starting May 5 to enter "all kinds of public areas and to take public transport", according to a notice on the city's official WeChat page.</p>.<p>For activities such as sporting events and group travel, participants will also need to show a negative Covid test taken within 48 hours, along with proof of "full vaccination," according to the new rules.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/covid-hit-beijing-keeps-up-guard-in-fear-of-shanghai-like-misery-1104600.html">Covid-hit Beijing keeps up guard in fear of Shanghai-like misery</a></strong></p>.<p>China reported more than 10,700 domestic Covid cases on Saturday, with the most in economic engine Shanghai.</p>.<p>The eastern metropolis has been sealed off for around a month after becoming the epicentre of the latest outbreak.</p>.<p>Cases are trending downwards, yet frustration and anger are boiling in the city of 25 million where many have been ordered to stay at home for several weeks.</p>.<p>Shanghai officials said Saturday that its new cases were all found among quarantined or restricted groups -- signalling that community infections could be slowing.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-logs-3303-new-covid-19-cases-39-more-deaths-1104597.html">India logs 3,303 new Covid-19 cases, 39 more deaths</a></strong></p>.<p>They added that hundreds of companies on a "whitelist" have resumed work, with around 1,000 firms allowed to restart operations too, state media said.</p>.<p>In Beijing, cases nudged up to 54, according to the National Health Commission.</p>.<p>As the long holiday started, consumers in the capital were asked to show proof of negative Covid tests -- within 48 hours -- to enter public areas such as malls, shops and scenic spots.</p>.<p>The city will make Covid testing free for residents starting Tuesday, authorities said.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>