Mass coronavirus testing in Beijing as cases rise

Beijing began testing millions of residents and shutting down residential and business districts Monday amid a new outbreak of COVID-19.

While only just more than 40 cases have been found in the city of more than 21 million since the outbreak surfaced Friday, authorities have implemented extreme measures to prevent a further spread of the virus. 

Residents were staying home and stocking up on food as a safeguard against the possibility that they could be confined indoors, as has happened in multiple cities including the financial hub of Shanghai.

Residents and commuters to the central district of Chaoyang, where 10 middle school students tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, as well as neighboring districts were being asked to take a coronavirus test on Monday.