Beijing sets vaccination requirement for public venues

Starting July 11, those who haven't received COVID-19 vaccines will be restricted to enter public venues in Beijing, officials said on Wednesday.

"Except for those who are not suitable for vaccination, only visitors who have received COVID-19 vaccines will be granted entry to public gathering sites, including education institutions, libraries, museums, movie theaters, art galleries, cultural centers, stadiums, fitness centers, entertainment venues and internet cafes, " Li Ang, deputy head of the Beijing Health Commission, said at a Wednesday news conference. "Other places with visitor restrictions and reservations will give priority to those who have been vaccinated."

"We also encourage seniors who often visit senior's universities, senior's activity centers and senior fitness and entertainment venues to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as early as possible," he said. "Under the current situation of epidemic prevention and control, vaccination is still an effective way to prevent being infected and prevent conditions from further worsening."

According to Li, as of Wednesday at noon, the city has administered over 62 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 23.4 million people, including around 3.61 million over 60.

Among all seniors, there are 210 people over 100, with the oldest aged 112.

Beijing also adjusted the epidemic prevention and control measures for those returning from outside the city.

According to the previous policy, those returning from regions with one or more COVID-19 cases reported within 14 days would be banned from entering Beijing, while the new policy has adjusted the window to seven days.

Those who return from counties under prefecture-level cities with one or more infections and counties at land border ports will no longer be restricted from entering Beijing.

Moreover, the city will resume direct international commercial passenger flights in an orderly manner.