Beijing brings in vaccine mandate as city reports cases of new Omicron subvariant
- From Monday, anyone wanting to enter public places like museums, theatres, stadiums and gyms will need to show proof of vaccination
- It comes as the Chinese capital is facing a new outbreak caused by highly transmissible strain that will again test the zero-tolerance strategy
Anyone wanting to enter public places such as museums, theatres, stadiums, gyms and entertainment venues will need to be vaccinated unless they have a medical exemption, Li Ang, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, told reporters on Wednesday.
Elderly people will also have to show proof of vaccination to enter community facilities such as game rooms.
Previously, people at high risk of contracting or spreading Covid-19 and anyone entering an aged care home had to be fully vaccinated.
The vaccine mandate is in addition to a requirement for Beijing residents to get tested every three days and show a negative result to enter public venues.
It comes as the Chinese capital is facing a new outbreak, with three cases reported on Tuesday confirmed as the BA.5.2 Omicron subvariant. The northwest city of Xian in Shaanxi has also reported community transmission of the strain.
