Chongqing - In order to find out the close contact with suspected and confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV, the citizens in Chongqing are under a thorough health checking. Community workers and inspectors have conducted two rounds of the epidemic checking, a total of 22,399,363 households and 59,229,702 people were investigated, and 733 people with suspected symptoms were reported to the local health department for medical observation. 

For example, Yuzhong District, one of the central district in Chongqing, regulates its citizens into 79 communities 960 grids. The investigation teams check every family, store, company, factory, and organization. The district strives to achieve city-wide inspection, leaving no stone unturned, nor a household or person uninspected. This ongoing investigation started on 24th Jan., and operate every five days. 

People need to take body temperature and visitor registration to enter a residential area in Yuzhong District.

Chen Lin, head of a local community in Yuzhong district, is in charge of four grids to conduct the investigation. Her team should check the temperature twice a day for those people who return to Chongqing from Hubei. The team should tell them what to do during the special quarantine period, and support their daily life. They provide vegetables, meats, and other necessities to the people in need. After returning to the office, the team will also check and tabulate the statistics for the day and report to the superior department.

The investigation team is taking temperature for the resident in quarantine.

As of February 2, Yuzhong District has sent more than 30,000 inspectors, and the first round of investigation was fully completed on January 29.  They have achieved the full coverage of households, enterprises, departments. The second round has inspected 299,000 households and more than 679,000 people, with a completion rate of 100%, and  24% of the 3rd round. These two investigations found 858 people from Hubei to Chongqing, including 13 suspected patients and 34 close contacted.

Each investigation team is responsible for different streets, communities, and grids. When the superior department receives data and will analyze the suspected cases instantly. Due to the meticulous search, everyone will be covered and the health and security of the city will be ensured.  

The grid-based investigation in Chongqing

During the 2019-nCoV, prevention and control work is crucial. To fight against the novel coronavirus, inspectors are conducting the grid-based investigation, operating on a comprehensive inspection system, to curb the spread of the epidemic. 

For example, some parking entrances are closed, leaving one pass to conduct the investigation.  Anyone who enters the parking area must get checked with temperature and symptoms. Meanwhile, some residential areas are closed to visitors as well. Yes, it's inconvenient, but an effective way to ensure safety for everyone.

The investigation team was sending necessities for people in Wanzhou District

Moreover, some districts and counties use WeChat groups, messages, rather than knock-door investigation, to conduct the investigation. With this system, the people in charge can easily find out about group-gatherings and disperse the crowd for the public benefit.

In the beginning, some residents did not care about the 2019 nCoV.  They took the grid-based investigation somewhat annoying, even closed their doors to the investigators. However, with more news information on the virus released, most citizens understand and support what Chongqing's government is doing. Therefore, they are more cooperative and willing to help.

The city launched the grid-based investigation on January 24, and two rounds of urban and rural community investigation have been completed on Feb. 4. In the two rounds, a total of 22,399,363 households and 59,229,702 people were investigated, and 733 people with suspected symptoms were reported to the local health department for medical observation. The investigation also found that people with suspicious symptoms were mainly concentrated in northeastern and western Chongqing.

Community worker delivers the daily necessities purchased online by the resident.

In addition, Chongqing has conducted comprehensive investigations on government agencies, institutions, and various social institutions and public places. On January 30, a total of 37,545 institutions, enterprises, institutions, and various social institutions and public areas were investigated. During the Spring Festival, 10,188 people attended group dinners, 11,063 people went out, and 59 people had epidemic symptoms.

Among those, 11 people were found to have suspicious symptoms out of 23,990 people in 7085 accommodation places, such as hotels, homestays, daily rent houses, and more. Additionally, five people with suspicious symptoms out of 63,365 people were checked in entertainment places, such as restaurants, chess and cards rooms, Internet cafes, KTVs (singing clubs), and baths. There were 10,529 people with fever, cough and were required to register in pharmacies when they purchased related medicines.