BEIJING — Beijing has further laid out requirements for COVID-19 prevention and control in the public transport services, including taxis and road passenger transportation.

Taxis and ride-hailing cars in Beijing are not allowed to leave the city for regions classified as medium- and high-risk areas for COVID-19, said Wang Zhaorong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, at a press conference on Jan 4.

Road passenger lines and chartered bus transport services to medium- and high-risk areas have been suspended.

Authorities have also asked taxi companies in Beijing to strengthen anti-epidemic measures, including vehicle disinfection, ventilation and personnel protection. Newly employed drivers should have a negative nucleic acid test certificate issued within three days.

Meanwhile, 423,800 people in key business areas of Beijing's Shunyi district and their surrounding communities had been tested for COVID-19 as of 2 pm on Jan 4. So far, 415,000 have received their nucleic acid test results with all testing negative, according to the press conference.