At least 10 hospitals in downtown Beijing will partly or fully suspend outpatient services this week as the Chinese capital prepares for a World War II victory day parade.
Hospitals located in a restricted area around Tiananmen Square, where the spectacle is set to take place on Thursday, will have to turn away non-emergency patients from Wednesday afternoon to Friday. Emergency departments at these hospitals will stay open round the clock, reported Beijing newspaper Jinghua Times.
Affected health facilities include the renowned Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Tongren Hospital, Beijing Children’s Hospital and Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Many of them will offer extra services this weekend to make up for the weekday suspension, Jinghua Times said.
Meanwhile, hospitals outside of the restricted area were asked to get ready for an expected surge in-patient numbers.
Read about other measures Beijing planned to prepare for the grand parade.
Road closures will also be implemented in the restricted area. In a long announcement with intricate maps published on Sunday, the Beijing Public Security Bureau detailed which area will be open only to vehicles and individuals with special credentials issued by the government for the military parade. Affected roads will be closed and reopened at different times throughout this week, while parking on the roads will be banned.
Meanwhile, city-wide traffic control based on licence plate numbers has come into effect since August 20.
