Coronavirus Outbreak: Beijing Locks Areas Down As Europe Opens Borders

By Staff, Agencies

China reported dozens of new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Monday as a growing cluster of infections stoked fears of a second wave, while more borders were opened in Europe ahead of the summer holiday season.

Streams of people lined up in a stadium as mass testing was carried out in Beijing, the capital of the country where the disease is thought most likely to have emerged late last year.

Health officials reported 49 new coronavirus cases nationwide, including 36 more in Beijing where a cluster linked to the Xinfadi market has fueled fears of a second wave of infections.

Meanwhile, the pandemic is gathering pace in Latin America, and Iran and India have reported worrying increases in deaths and infections – adding to concern over challenges the world will face in the long fight against COVID-19.

But for the moment news has been better in Europe, which has mostly seen caseloads fall steadily in recent weeks.

Many countries are further lifting painful lockdowns which have devastated economies and wearied confined populations.

Greece is already allowing travelers from nations deemed low-risk, and on Monday it opened its borders to EU countries – as did Germany, Belgium, France, with Austria to follow the next day.