(VOVworld) – China’s capital city, Beijing, has taken steps to fight heavy smog since the first red alert for air pollution this year was issued last week. Other cities and provinces in northern China are facing their worst air pollution in a year. 

China’s red alert is issued whenever heavy air pollution occurs for 4 consecutive days or the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 500.

The Chinese National Meteorological Centre says that over the past 5 days dusty air blanketed Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong.

Beijing authorities have banned high-polluting vehicles from the roads and cut in half the number of vehicles on the road using an odd-or-even license plate rule. Construction sites and polluting factories have been suspended. Schools have been advised to close.

People have been encouraged to use public transportation, keep their doors closed, and use air filters.

Beijing authorities have advised people, especially the elderly and children, to refrain from going outside to avoid contracting respiratory diseases.

The Beijing Environmental Protection Monitoring Centre is warning that the severe air pollution is likely to last until Thursday, one day later the previously forecast.