Covid lockdown fears spark panic buying in Beijing as largest district begins mass testing

Residents hope to avoid Shanghai-style shortages as Chinese authorities rush to stamp out outbreak in the capital

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Beijingers were flooding supermarkets to stock up on food on Monday, hoping to avoid Shanghai-style shortages in the case of a city-wide lockdown as the capital records a growing number of Covid infections.

Authorities in Beijing have ordered 3.5 million residents and workers in the biggest district of Chaoyang to report for three coronavirus tests this week, after the area recorded 26 of Beijing's 47 symptomatic cases since Friday.