Beijing imposes trave curbs to control Covi

Authorities in Beijing have rolled out a range of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by imposing restrictions on travellers from parts of the country that are reporting a rising number of coronavirus cases.

The Global Times reported that people from medium or high-risk regions of China who had been planning to travel to Beijing or return there would now be prevented from purchasing tickets for both air and railway services.

The Beijing authorities said that health codes for people who are still in medium and high-risk regions will be adjusted to the yellow level, and anyone with a health code that is not green will not be allowed to board planes or trains bound for Beijing.

The measures come as several cities in China are witnessing a surge in Covid-19 infections. The Delta-driven outbreak has grown to over 500 symptomatic cases spread across 15 provinces and municipalities.

Beijing’s Daxing international airport has announced the suspension of flight routes from 15 cities, including hotspots of outbreaks such as Nanjing, Yangzhou and Zhangjiajie. The Beijing International Film Festival, too, has been postponed due to the surge in cases.

On Saturday, China reported at least 95 new Covid-19 cases. According to the national health commission, the country reported 81 new locally transmitted cases. Of the domestic infections, 38 were reported in Jiangsu, 24 in Henan, seven in Yunnan, six each in Hubei and Hunan.

Olympics host city Tokyo sees 4,000 daily cases

Tokyo, which hosted the Olympic Games, has lodged over 4,000 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours - a new singleday record for the Japanese city.

The daily spike in cases in Tokyo topped 4,000 for the fifth straight day, with a record 5,042 infections confirmed last Th day. On Sunday, the new d cases stood at 4,066.

Saudis to reopen bord for vaccinated pilgrim

Saudi Arabia will begin acc ing vaccinated foreign pilg seeking to visit the holy ci Mecca, state media reporte Sunday, around 18 months a border closure prompte the coronavirus pandemic.

Authorities in the mini responsible for coordinating eign pilgrims will from Mon begin “gradually recei Umrah requests from var countries of the world”, Saudi Press Agency reporte

The umrah is a pilgrim that can be undertaken at time - distinct from the which takes place once ann - and usually draws mill from around the globe each

The pandemic hugely rupted both pilgrimages, w are important revenue ear for the kingdom - in nor times, they together rak around $12 billion annually