Beijing Marathon returns but China sticks to ‘zero-Covid’

Runners compete in the Beijing Marathon (Zhang Chenlin/Xinhua via AP)

Thousands of runners have taken to the streets of China’s capital for the return of the Beijing Marathon after a two-year Covid-19 hiatus, even as another death blamed on China’s strict pandemic controls generated more public anger.

Authorities are trying to restore a sense of normalcy while sticking to a “zero-Covid” strategy that locks down neighbourhoods when any virus cases are found and quarantines everyone arriving from overseas in hotels for seven to 10 days.