China's leadership has vowed to crack down on environmental degradation, including the air pollution that blankets many major cities, following decades of unbridlged economic growth.
In an online statement, the city government said all outdoor construction work must stop on red alert days, while also urging schools to close. Even healthy people should try to avoid outdoor activity and choose public transportation.
The notice, issued after days of heavy smog last week, also places traffic restrictions on certain types of vehicles in the city of 22.5 million people, Reuters reported.
The concentration of PM2.5 -- particulate considered the most dangerous to people’s health -- was 208 micrograms per cubic meter at 6 pm near Tiananmen Square, according to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center.
Monday’s bad air, coupled with five days of hazardous pollution on Nov. 27-Dec. 1, raised fresh concern about the government’s ability to tackle air quality despite repeated statements from leaders that cleaning up the environment in the country is a top priority.