Beijing reports 11 new virus cases and expert says outbreak nearing end

China reported 13 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, in the midst of an ongoing outbreak in Beijing.

All 11 of the the locally transmitted new cases were reported in the capital, according to the latest figures from national health authorities.

Two imported cases were also reported in Shanghai.

Chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wu Zunyou told a press briefing on Thursday that the Beijing outbreak "is continuing to move in a positive direction."

Wu predicted that the number of infections in the city will be brought down to zero within the next seven to 10 days.

A total of 282 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Beijing since a local cluster was traced back to the sprawling Xinfadi wholesale market in the city's south-western Fengtai district on June 11.

Since then the capital has taken drastic steps to contain the outbreak, conducting mass testing, closing schools, putting neighbourhoods on lockdown, and banning all unnecessary travel.