Chinese venture outdoors in greater numbers as virus worries ease
The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China stood at 81,008 at the end of Friday
(Reuters) - People in Beijing and Shanghai appeared to be venturing out in greater numbers on Saturday (March 21) as warmer weather coincides with a gradual easing of fears across China about the coronavirus.
Hundreds walked around the vast grounds of Beijing s Summer Palace on Saturday, all wearing masks as required by the park authorities. Of those who agreed to be interviewed by Reuters, almost all were taking part in their first outing for weeks.
It was a measured rise in confidence as China did report a record rise in imported coronavirus cases a day earlier, 41 new cases. But there were no new locally transmitted cases for the third consecutive day, the National Health Commission said.
Restrictions remain in many areas of life in China and temperature checks are ubiquitous. Several major sites and parks in Beijing have restrictions on visitor numbers. The Summer Palace, which one worker says usually gets well over 20,000 visitors a day at this time of year, has limited visitor numbers to 5,000 per half day and told people to reserve a ticket online and bring their ID card with them. A pre-recorded message reminding visitors to take precautions including maintaining distance between each other played from hidden speakers across the park. But that did not deter many small crowds forming to take photos around the peach blossom or swans.
In Shanghai s trendy Xintiandi shopping district cafes were filling up on Saturday as people sought to make the most of the sunshine after having been stuck at home for weeks. Lindo Zhang told Reuters it s her first time to come outside to dine with her friend in downtown Shanghai for weeks and she felt more relaxed about there being no domestically transmitted cases in Shanghai for several days.
The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China stood at 81,008 at the end of Friday, the health authority said. The death toll was 3,255, up by seven, a much slower rate than at the height of the crisis.
