THE Chinese capital Beijing on Sunday promised to improve anti-virus measures and ban the practice of barring building gates in closed-off residential compounds.

Facing a continuous rise of new COVID-19 cases, the city must optimize epidemic control according to new conditions, Liu Xiaofeng, deputy head of the Beijing municipal disease prevention and control center, told a press conference.

In particular, barricading building gates and residential-complex entries in high-risk areas is strictly prohibited. Passages must remain clear for medical transportation, emergency escapes and rescues, said Wang Daguang, a municipal official in charge of community-level epidemic control and prevention.

Residential complexes shall be timely lifted out of closed-off management if they fit the requirements, he said.

Beijing on Saturday reported 747 locally transmitted COVID-19 confirmed cases and 3,560 local asymptomatic cases, compared with 586 and 2,009 Friday.

Previously, the city government promised to expedite the reopening of shopping malls and supermarkets that sell livelihood-related products, saying such business outlets, if affected by the COVID-19 cases, are allowed to reopen after one day of required closure and disinfection. (Xinhua)