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Yesterday, in China: Xi'an COVID Lockdown, we looked at the lockdown, and mass testing measures being used to try to contain the worst outbreak of COVID reported by China in more than 21 months. Although Omicron has been detected in travelers arriving in China, early reports suggest this outbreak is due to Delta.
While still small compared to outbreaks in other countries, China has placed a lot of faith in their Zero-COVID strategy - particularly with the Beijing Winter Olympics just 5 weeks away - and any breach risks seeing COVID cases spread rapidly across the nation.
Today's update from China's National Health Commission finds 175 cases reported over the past 24 hours in Xi'an, bringing their total to over 800 cases in December.
The latest situation of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic as of 24:00 on December 27(Continue . . . )
Release time: 2021-12-28 Source: Health Emergency OfficeFrom 0-24 o'clock on December 27, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 209 new confirmed cases. Among them, 27 were imported cases from abroad (8 in Shanghai, 6 in Guangxi, 2 in Fujian, 2 in Shandong, 2 in Guangdong, 2 in Yunnan, 2 in Shaanxi, 1 in Tianjin, 1 in Zhejiang, 1 in Chongqing); local cases 182 cases (180 in Shaanxi, including 175 in Xi'an, 3 in Xianyang, and 2 in Yan'an; 1 in Zhejiang, in Shaoxing, and 1 in Yunnan, in Kunming). There were no new deaths. There are no new suspected cases.
Some (translated) excerpts from a press conference held Dec 27th by Ma Guanghui, deputy director of the Provincial Health Commission, and others follow:
1. The epidemic situation in our province
From 0-24 o'clock on December 26, Shaanxi newly reported 152 local confirmed cases. From December 9th to December 26th at 24:00, a total of 651 confirmed cases were reported across the province. Among the 651 cases, in terms of gender and age distribution, there are 340 males and 311 females. The oldest age is 90 years, the youngest age is 6 months, and the median age is 36 years. In terms of occupational distribution, it covers household chores and unemployed, business services, farmers, students, workers and other groups.
In the past week, there have been 598 newly confirmed local cases in the province, including 152 on December 26 and 157 on December 25. At present, the local epidemic situation in our province is still in a stalemate, and the number of cases is expected to continue in a short period of time. It is not ruled out that some spot-like outbreaks will occur. Regarding the spot-like outbreaks that have already occurred, we have taken quick measures. With the escalation and implementation of various closure measures, and with the support and cooperation of the general public, we strive to reduce potential social risks in the shortest possible time.
2. Progress in handling the epidemic
Epidemic prevention and control is the most important political task of our province at present. The whole province deeply understands the importance, urgency and complexity of epidemic prevention and control, strengthens confidence, grit your teeth, fights every second and works day and night, and resolutely fights against the epidemic. Control this tough battle.
One is to take strict measures to prevent spillage and control spread. Focusing on Xi'an, we will strengthen the management and control of risk areas, and adopt classified management and control measures in medium and high risk areas, closed areas, controlled areas and prevention areas to reduce the flow and gathering of people. Xi'an has adopted the measures of "not leaving the city if it is not necessary" to strictly control the outflow of people from high-speed exits and two stations. Starting at 0:00 on December 27, Xi’an’s epidemic prevention and control measures have been further strengthened. All residents will not leave their homes or gather except to participate in nucleic acid sampling as required.
The second is to take multiple rounds of nucleic acid testing to screen out infected persons as quickly as possible. Xi'an City has completed 4 rounds of acid testing, and the fourth round of testing has collected a total of 11.8236 million people. The testing has been completed. A new round of nucleic acid testing was launched at 12:00 on December 27 to maximize the detection of concealed infections in the society. Yan'an City has carried out regional nucleic acid testing for 1.136 million person-times, and Xianyang City has already tested 1.514 million person-times.
The third is to intensify the traceability of circulation and make every effort to control the risk population. In terms of traceability, the Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention has completed the complete genetic sequencing of 137 local cases, which are all highly homologous to the imported cases reported on Pakistan's inbound flight on December 4. In terms of circulation, all cities, especially Xi'an, have stepped up efforts to "integrate the three publics". Once a positive case is reported, the public security department will immediately take the lead, the public health agency will cooperate, and the industry and information department will support the backstage, using big data to study and judge the trajectory of actions, and cooperate with the traditional Face-to-face flow adjustment, quickly and accurately target the target population, strengthen work connection, speed up the flow adjustment speed of cases, and continuously improve the flow adjustment efficiency. At present, the province controls 16,798 people in close contact, and 34,291 people in close contact.
The fourth is to concentrate the power of experts in the province and go all out to treat patients. Leaving the Xi'an Chest Hospital and Xi'an People's Hospital as designated hospitals for the treatment of new crown patients. Emergency transfer of medical personnel from medical institutions such as the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Tangdu Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical College, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi’an Daxing Hospital, etc., to form a number of medical teams to work with Xi’an Medical staff from the Science Hospital and Xi’an People’s Hospital actively carried out medical treatment.
Three, the next step
At present, the province's epidemic prevention and control is in a tough period. The vast number of cadres and the masses of the province must strengthen their confidence, work together, and gather a strong joint force to fight the epidemic.
(Continue . . . )
