The largest wholesale food market in #Beijing was shut by authorities this weekend, after the discovery of the first locally transmitted cases of #coronavirus in the Chinese capital for 50 days.
ADVERTISEMENTThere are fears of a second wave of coronavirus in China, where the outbreak began, as the country saw a resurgence in new cases over the weekend.
According to the Chinese authorities, 57 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been recorded in 24 hours, including 36 in Beijing, the highest daily figure since April.
The biggest wholesale food market in the capital was shut on Saturday after a number of cases there were detected.
The Xinfadi market, which has 4,000 tenants, was closed following the discovery of seven cases in the last two days, the authorities said.
The outbreak comes as many countries in Europe are preparing to reopen their borders and get their economies back in action, after months of lockdown to halt the spread of the virus.
The market and its surroundings will be disinfected, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
China was the original source of the outbreak of COVID-19, which has spread across the world killing more than 425,000 people, and infecting millions.
Iran sees spike in deaths
Authorities in Iran announced the virus had killed more than 100 people in 24 hours, the first time this had happened since 14 April.
The health authorities recorded 107 new deaths between midday on Saturday and Sunday, taking the officially recorded total to 8,837 deaths.
Brazil overtakes UK for deaths
Meanwhile Brazil has overtaken the UK as the country with the second highest death toll from COVID-19, according to available figures.
41,828 have been confirmed in the South American country, with 41,566 in the UK.
The only country in the world with more confirmed deaths in the US, which currently has 114,669.
In São Paulo, one of Brazil’s hotspots for the virus, municipal workers are digging up graves in order to free up space for future coronavirus victims.
Health experts are worried about a partial reopening in the city this week, resulting in crowded public transport, lines at shopping centres and disregard for social distancing.
Some experts predict the peak of Brazil’s pandemic will arrive in August, having spread from the big cities where it first appeared into the nation’s interior.