BEIJING: City folks here have rushed into panic-buying mode after the number of people who tested positive for Covid-19 shot up into double-digits on Sunday (April 24).

       Food and essential items at groceries, wet markets and convenience stores across the city centre were almost snapped up.

       To cater to the shopping spree, several grocery chains have also extended their business hours until the last customer leaves the premises.

       Financial controller Dennis Phua rushed to a supermarket with his Filipino friend at around 8pm Sunday after calls from his residents' committee for the registration of volunteers.

       Thinking that he was quick enough, the 52-year-old arrived at the outlet only to find most of the shelves empty.

       They then headed to a wet market nearby, again having to leave empty-handed.

       Not giving up, the pair checked out a shoplot grocery, which was packed with customers with a full load of items in their shopping carts.

       “I returned home with some frozen chicken, French fries and noodles while my friends grabbed a lot of ice-cream,” Phua said.

       Since Feb 23, the Chinese capital had not reported more than nine locally transmitted Covid-19 infections daily.

       However, the figure suddenly shot up to 21 people on Sunday.

       Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention deputy director Pang Xinghuo said the virus has been spreading insidiously for one week and this time around, it involved students, teachers, a tour group of senior citizens, interior decoration staff and delivery workers.

       The panic-buying came after the city government announced the lockdown of 14 residential areas and that another 14 would be placed under static management in the Chaoyang district – the most populous zone here.

       Mass testing for Covid-19 throughout the city will be carried out on Monday (April 25).