Officials in Beijing have sealed off several residential areas of the city’s northern district after just two cases of COVID were discovered.

In an example of how seriously authorities continue to take any outbreaks of coronavirus, the Anzhenli neighbourhood in the Chaoyang district was closed off this weekend, with those living there unable to leave their compound.

It comes just a week before the capital is due to host the Winter Olympics, with officials on high alert.

While cases are low compared to other countries, China has a “zero-tolerance” policy when it comes to fighting the virus, which includes trying to stop chains of transmission as soon as they are discovered.

Residents are also being asked to test in the run-up to the Games at one of the 19 spots around Beijing, according to state media, adding that just 12 cases have been recorded in the latest 24-hour reporting period.

The cases all involved people who had already been under some kind of COVID-related restrictions in the city.

Multiple rounds of testing have taken place in the previous week in the Fengtai district, home to millions of people, which has also seen some of its compounds placed back into lockdown.

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City officials are scrambling to shut down the small outbreak ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony, and will be hoping to avoid any COVID-related complications throughout the event.

China has enforced some of the world’s toughest restrictions since cases of COVID were first discovered in the city of Wuhan more than two years ago.

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