Despite the fact that the caseload – below 1,000 illnesses since April 22 – is small, the rumours have fueled worry among many in Beijing that the city is headed for a Shanghai-style lockdown.

On Thursday afternoon, residents in Beijing, particularly in the hard-hit Chaoyang district, formed long and tense lines following reports that the city would go into at least a three-day “quiet period,” which would mean staying at home without access to deliveries and only stepping out to be tested for Covid-19.

By early evening, several shops and vegetable markets had been cleaned up.

Beijing government spokeswoman Xu Hejian refuted the speculations of a lockdown, saying that the city’s 22 million citizens do not need to be concerned about food supply and that deliveries will not be delayed.

“Hoarding food is needless,” he stated, adding, “Residents need not be concerned; the city’s operations will not be hampered.”

Despite the fact that the caseload – below 1,000 illnesses since April 22 – is small, the rumours have fueled worry among many in Beijing that the city is headed for a Shanghai-style lockdown.

Xu, on the other hand, recommended people to stay at home and work over the following three days.

On Thursday, the city tightened Covid-19 limitations even more, banning taxi access to areas of the capital where Covid-19 is most prevalent.

As a result, millions of Beijing residents were unable to use taxi services, as all ride-hailing cabs and cars were prohibited from entering the southern portion of Chaoyang district, as well as all of Fangshan and Shunyi districts.

As a result, a substantial number of people have been denied access to any publicly available transportation.

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