Beijing announces new measures as Omicron cases rise

China has reported cases of Omicron subvariant surfacing in Beijing and Shaanxi province on Wednesday, as the Chinese capital announced new measures, making it mandatory to show proof of vaccination for people entering public places.

State-run Global Times reported that 5.2 was discovered in Beijing and northwest China's Shaanxi Province, leading to strengthened anti-epidemic measures in those areas.

The new variants came as China was looking to relax its zero COVID policy by reducing quarantine time and allowing more international air travel.

The sub-variant has caused concern among Chinese people, with experts and officials stressing that the key is to 'cope with fast transmission by fast response'' as the current dominant variant in the US and Europe.

Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi, launched temporary seven-day epidemic prevention control measures in some public places on Wednesday after the city reported 29 infections in the previous four days.

The 21 million population is currently being tested by Beijing.

People who want to enter public places like museums, theatres, stadiums and gyms in Beijing will need proof of vaccination, said Li Ang, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission.

The development comes as the Chinese capital is facing a new outbreak caused by a highly transmissible strain that will test the zero-tolerance strategy.

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that elderly people would have to show proof of vaccination to enter community facilities such as game rooms.

People at high risk of contracting or spreading Covid 19 and anyone entering an aged care home had to be fully vaccinated.

Beijing is about to hold the 20th Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China CPC dates, which is yet to be announced.

It was widely expected that the conference would endorse a rare third five-year term for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ma Chaofeng, a health official in Xi'an, told the media that the cases reported recently were caused by the BA. 5.2 subvariant were linked to a renewable resources market.

On Wednesday, Beijing authorities confirmed that they had discovered three infections caused by the BA. The Global Times report said that there was 5.2 sub-variant.

Pang Xinghuo, a Beijing health official, said the latest cases were allegedly caused by imported virus and the current situation is still under control.