Chongqing- Swift epidemic control measures have been taken as an asymptomatic case was reported Wednesday, according to the Information Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government.
Fengjie County reports one asymptomatic case
A 34-year-old male surnamed Wang returned to Fengjie County in northeastern Chongqing by private car from Wuhan, where he worked as a laborer. Once the Jingkai District of Wuhan was designated a medium-risk area, he was identified as a target individual for screening.
Wang subsequently tested positive on August 4th following a nucleic acid test and was confirmed as an asymptomatic case. He is now undergoing medical observation at a quarantine facility.
In response, the Municipal Commission has taken responsibility for the epidemic investigation, quarantine zones, mass nucleic acid testing, the disinfection of public spaces, genome sequencing, and work deployments.
The Municipal Health Commission acted swiftly to coordinate the epidemic response on the ground in Fengjie County. They have formulated a detailed list of individuals for screening and imposed strict epidemic control measures.
A municipal level panel of experts from the Municipal Health Commission has met with the disease control authorities of Fengjie County and other relevant departments to conduct a thorough epidemiological investigation for tracking and tracing individual movements.
Venues and individuals implicated in the epidemic have been traced for screening and tracking of close contacts and secondary contacts for medical observation and nucleic acid testing under quarantine. The environments concerned have been closed off for disinfection in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
As of 5 pm on August 4th, 43 close and secondary contacts were tracked down for nucleic acid sampling, all of whom tested negative. In addition, 49 environmental samples were taken, 47 of which tested negative, while the remaining two from the patient’s home tested positive.
Officials and experts from the Information Office of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, Jiangjin District People’s Government, Chongqing Municipal Disease Control Center report the latest epidemic situation and control measures. (iChongqing/ James Alexander)
Swift measures to combat the spread
Key epidemic areas, including the residential compound and county hospital, have been placed under closed management, and all public buses have been removed from service for disinfection.
Eight epidemiological teams have been set up to trace all close contacts for nucleic acid sampling, while five quarantine zones have been activated, with 200 rooms available for close and secondary contacts in need of isolation.
Free nucleic acid tests have been arranged for all individuals traveling to and from Fengjie County, and local citizens are advised to remain in Fengjie unless absolutely necessary.
The county hospital has been designated as a treatment center, where expert medical teams in Chinese and western medicine have been assembled for quarantine observations in a single location.
Checks for body temperature and health codes have been strictly implemented in busy locations such as bus stations and supermarkets.
At present, all citizens are generally advised not to leave Chongqing Municipality and avoid travel to medium and high-risk cities and areas.
Individuals with a travel history to epidemic-related cities should pro-actively cooperate with control measures by reporting their movements, accepting nucleic acid tests, and monitoring their health. Those returning to Chongqing from other provinces should take a nucleic acid test as quickly as possible.
Awareness of personal epidemic control methods should be strengthened by maintaining good personal hygiene, wearing a mask, washing hands, and avoiding crowded areas and venues such as mahjong rooms. A suitable distance from others should be maintained when outdoors.
Tourist attractions should strictly adhere to a reservation policy that restricts visitor numbers within designated time slots, while travel plans to other provinces should be put on hold.
Finally, vaccinations are an effective prevention and control measure, so all citizens are called upon to receive their Covid-19 inoculations at the earliest possible opportunity.
Update on Jiangjin District
In Jiangjin District, samples from175,306 people were taken during the second round of mass testing, all of which have proven negative. The two confirmed cases reported previously are still undergoing medical observation in quarantine and are in stable condition.
After two imported cases and two confirmed local cases of Covid-19 in Chongqing, epidemic prevention and control measures have been tightened in the city since 29th July.