Beijing records two COVID-related deaths

Beijing reported two death cases related to COVID-19 on Sunday, the data on the National Health Commission website showed early Monday.

Since the capital fine-tuned its epidemic control and prevention measures in the past two weeks, cases of flu-like symptoms have increased rapidly.

The Beijing Emergency Center saw emergency calls for medical consultation and requests for an emergency ambulance surge.

Chen Zhi, chief physician of the center, urged asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 infections not to dial the emergency medical number 120 and to leave emergency hotline channels for critically ill patients.

Meanwhile, Beijing districts, including Xicheng, Haidian and Mentougou, have announced hotline numbers especially for critically ill patients, in order to provide fast channels for those in need.

At the same time, the vaccination drive against COVID-19 has been beefed up in the city. Dongcheng, Haidian and Fengtai districts have all launched the second dose of "booster injection" for COVID-19 vaccine among people who meet the requirements in recent days.

According to the authority, the high-risk population who have completed the first booster injection for more than six months, seniors over 60, and those suffering serious underlying diseases can now receive the second booster.