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The protests against COVID-19 lockdowns have spread to Beijing even as China reported close to 40,000 coronavirus cases on Monday as authorities scrambled to contain the fresh surge in infections.
For the fifth consecutive day, China reported close to 4,000 cases in the capital city of Beijing.
China’s National Health Commission said 39,452 new cases were reported on Monday, including 36,304 local asymptomatic cases.
Meanwhile, the protests which broke out in the eastern metropolis of Shanghai during the weekend, have spread to Beijing where hundreds of people converged on Sunday evening near Liangmahe river in the central city.
Crowds carrying lighted candles in memory of those killed in the fire at an apartment block reported under COVID-19 lockdown in Urumqi in Xinjiang shouted slogans against the arbitrary lockdowns by the government to curb the spread of the virus and in solidarity with the weekend protests in Shanghai.
Several diplomats and foreigners watched the protests as they took place close to the diplomatic residential compound in Beijing.
