China, South Korea, Egypt report rise in virus cases as curbs ease

The Xinfadi market in Beijing was closed after 50 people tested positive for the virus in the Chinese capital’s first confirmed cases in 50 days

Workers in protective suits direct people living near the Xinfadi wholesale market to a stadium in Beijing for testing on June 14. The capital's biggest wholesale food market was shut down following a resurgence in local infections. AP Photo

A worker in protective suit chats with a resident near the Xinfadi wholesale market on June 14. AP Photo

Security guards set up barricades at a stadium in Beijing where residents are to be tested

People wear protective masks at an open-air produce market in Beijing

A woman wearing a protective face mask walks by the seafood wholesale market closed for inspection in Beijing. AP Photo

This seafood wholesale market was closed for inspection in Beijing on June 14 as China recorded fresh cases. AP Photo

A security guard locks up the seafood market entrance. AP Photo

A medical worker in a protective suit conducts tests on residents at a sports stadium, after new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were detected in Beijing, China. Reuters

China reported its highest daily total of new coronavirus cases in two months on Sunday and infections in South Korea rose, showing how the disease can come back as curbs on business and travel are lifted.

Elsewhere, governments including Egypt, Ukraine and North Macedonia have reported their highest single-day totals of new infections since Friday. In the United States, case numbers are rising in some states as President Donald Trump pushes to reopen businesses despite warnings by public health experts.

The world is seeing more than 100,000 new cases every day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

China had 57 new cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Saturday, the National Health Commission reported. That was the highest since mid-April and included 36 in the capital, Beijing, a city of 20 million people.

Beijing’s cases were all linked to its biggest wholesale food market, which was shut down on Saturday, the official China News Service reported, quoting the city’s disease control agency. It said 27 worked there and nine had direct or indirect exposure to it.

The Xinfadi market was closed after 50 people tested positive for the virus in the Chinese capital’s first confirmed cases in 50 days.

China, where the pandemic began in December, and other countries that suffered early on including South Korea, Italy and Spain have seen numbers of new infections decline. Brazil, India, the United States and other countries are seeing large increases.

China responded to the outbreak with the world’s most intensive anti-disease controls, isolating cities with some 60 million people and shutting down much of its economy. Those steps were later imitated by some other governments.

The ruling Communist party eased most limits on business and travel after declaring victory over the disease in March. Some curbs are still in place including a ban on most foreign travellers arriving in the country.

On Saturday, authorities in Beijing locked down 11 residential communities near the Xinfadi market. White fencing sealed off a road leading to the apartment building. Drivers were required to show identification to enter the area.

South Korea’s government reported 34 more cases, adding to an upward trend in infections.

The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said 30 were in the greater Seoul area, where half of the country’s 51 million people live. New cases have been linked to nightlife establishments, church services, an e-commerce warehouse and door-to-door sellers.

On Saturday, Egypt’s Health Ministry announced 1,677 new confirmed cases. The Arab world’s most populous country has its highest coronavirus death toll at 1,484 among 42,980 confirmed cases.

Also on Saturday, Ukraine reported 753 new cases, more than double the daily count earlier this month. Authorities in North Macedonia reported 196 cases.

In the United States, the number of new cases in Arizona in the southwest has risen to more than 1,000 per day from fewer than 400 when the state’s shutdown was lifted in mid-May, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

Governor Doug Ducey is not requiring Arizona residents to wear masks in public despite warnings by public health experts outside the government.

Elsewhere, bar owners in New Orleans were preparing to reopen. San Francisco restaurants resumed outdoor seating on Friday and the California government allowed hotels, zoos, museums and aquariums to reopen.

The states of Utah and Oregon suspended further reopening of their economies due to a spike in cases.

The latest Chinese cases raised the mainland’s total to 83.132, with 4,634 deaths, according to the Health Commission. South Korea has reported 12,085 cases and 277 deaths.

Also on Sunday, China’s air regulator announced China Southern Airlines was required to suspend flights between Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the southern city of Guangzhou for four weeks after 17 passengers on Thursday’s flight tested positive for the virus.

Beijing allows each airline to make one flight per week on each route. Under rules announced on June 4, a route will be suspended for one week if five passengers on a flight test positive and four weeks if the number rises to 10.

In Europe, France’s highest administrative court ruled on Saturday that virus concerns no longer justify banning public protests.

The Council of State’s decision allows for demonstrations and marches as long as health protections are respected. Events must be declared in advance to local authorities and not deemed a risk to public order.

The ruling came as an unauthorised protest against police violence and racial injustice wound down in Paris. Police had stopped at least 15,000 protesters from a planned march through the city on Saturday, citing virus-related restrictions on any gathering of more than 10 people.