Beijing finds recent virus unrelated to previous cases

The virus genome of the recent local cases found in Beijing was not related to the city's previous local or imported cases, said Beijing's health authority on Thursday.

Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference, that the virus is on the same transmission chain as recent cases in Gansu and Shaanxi after experts' investigation.

Since two confirmed cases were reported in Xi'an, Shaanxi province recently, the COVID-19 clusters which were suspected to be related to a tour group has spread to at least seven provinces and autonomous regions.

Beijing reported a locally transmitted COVID-19 case on Tuesday. The individual was a close contact of a previously confirmed case. They both boarded train K42 from Dunhuang, Gansu province, to Beijing.

The capital reported another new local case on Thursday. She is the wife of an individual in the previous case.

By now, the city authority has identified 128 close contacts of the new cases.

Pang cautioned people in Beijing not to leave the city unless absolutely necessary.