There were reports of panic buying in Chaoyang district in Beijing as mass testing began. Beijing had reported 33 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

China has stuck to its “zero-Covid” policy shutting down cities with few virus cases, however, in Shanghai officials eased the lockdown and allowed some businesses to reopen.

Authorities in Bejing have asked residents to work from home and sealed several residential areas in a bid to combat the virus early and avoid a repeat of Shanghai where the lockdown was ordered abruptly as residents complained of food shortages.