Chongqing- After two imported cases and two confirmed local cases of Covid-19 in Chongqing, epidemic prevention and control measures are tightened in the city since 29th July.  Preliminary analysis indicates the two cases are most likely related to their travel history in Zhangjiajie. At present, there are epidemic clusters in multiple locations across China, and the situation remains severe and complex. In Chongqing, the pressure to defend against imported cases and a domestic rebound continues to increase. The Information Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government delivered the latest report on the epidemic situation on Thursday and Friday.

Two cases imported from Afghanistan are currently in hospital receiving treatment. The two individuals in question visited a medical institution in Chengdu for nucleic acid testing on July 27th, after learning that a COVID-19 case in Dalian had travel history in Zhangjiajie of Hunan Province, where they had visited as tourists at the same time.

After testing positive during initial screening, they pro-actively informed their work institutions of the results on the morning of July 28th. At present, Li has been confirmed as a positive case, while confirmatory results for Chen are still pending per regulations.

Representatives of the Yubei District People's Government, Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Institute reported the latest epidemic situation on July 29th, 2021.

On notification of the initial nucleic acid tests in Chengdu, relevant departments in Chongqing and Yubei district acted swiftly and decisively to conduct an epidemiological investigation, contact tracing, environmental disinfection, and community management.

As of midday July 29th, 42 close contacts and 399 secondary contacts have been traced for nucleic acid testing in Chongqing. Test results for 189 people have been confirmed as negative, while the remaining samples are still awaiting confirmation.

Yubei District also conducted nucleic acid tests on all residents and staff in the residential complex of Li and Chen, all of which have been confirmed as negative. One hundred fifty-two environmental samples were additionally collected, for which nucleic acid test results have also proved negative.

The six key measures taken for epidemic prevention and control in Chongqing were announced as follows.

Command system activated

Close attention is paid to the epidemic situation at home, abroad, and in neighboring provinces. Response procedures have been optimized, while personnel and material reserves have been prepared to ensure that local epidemics can be dealt with quickly.

Strict management applied 

The flow of people into Chongqing from other provinces has been recorded for close and secondary contacts, while a 14-day centralized quarantine paired with a series of 4 nucleic acid tests has been strictly implemented following local laws and regulations.

People and goods under strict management

Closed-loop management and centralized quarantine have been implemented for personnel returning to Chongqing from overseas. Disinfection of imported cold-chain foods and regular nucleic acid testing for related employees, working environments, and outer packaging have been strengthened to lower the risk of imported cases.

Monitoring and early warning systems strengthened 

Measures such as health code inspections and body temperature testing at stations, terminals, airports, and other gateways have been rigorously implemented. A registration management system for drug sales has been put in place for pharmacies so that purchasers of medicines for coughs etc., can be traced and potential sources of infection detected at an early stage.

Epidemic prevention and control strengthened in medical institutions

A pre-examination and triage system has been rigorously implemented to manage fever clinics, with in-depth inquiries about travel history and the duty to report suspected patients immediately to ensure early detection and treatment.

Vaccinations to be sped up 

Vaccine supplies will be enhanced, as well as improvements to capacity and service quality. Vaccinations are available free of charge to people of appropriate age. As of 24:00 on July 28, a total of 36.743 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.

Update July 30th: Two more cases reported

As of midday on July 30th, Chongqing added two confirmed cases of locally transmitted Covid-19. At present, there are four hospitalized cases undergoing treatment, two of which were locally transmitted and the other two imported.

The first case is a 22-year-old male who presented with a fever to a medical institution in Jiangjin District on July 29th. He was confirmed as a Covid-19 case following a positive nucleic acid test released the next day.

The second case is a female aged 24 and who is the girlfriend of the case mentioned above. She has been confirmed as a light case of Covid-19, and the two individuals are currently in a stable condition undergoing treatment at a designated medical facility.

Chongqing Municipal Government, the Municipal Commission, and related district and county departments are acting swiftly in response to the latest case reports.

Following the principles of wide investigation, rapid action, strict management, and careful methodology, the following decisive epidemic prevention and control measures are currently ongoing.

• 1. Advance response measures have been activated. The Municipal Epidemic Prevention and Control Leadership Team was immediately dispatched to the scene to coordinate the response as soon as possible to avoid further spread.
• 2. A team of municipal-level experts has convened with local disease control institutions and related departments to form a dual municipal-district level response team. They are now performing a detailed epidemiological investigation to precisely trace the prior movements of the confirmed cases. The Municipal Center for Disease Control is currently analyzing samples taken from the patients for gene sequencing.
• 3. Closed management has been implemented for designated epidemic zones. Personnel may not leave such areas in order to prevent further spread.
• 4. Swift contact tracing is being carried out to identify close and secondary contacts. These individuals have been placed in centralized quarantine for medical observation and nucleic acid testing, while all concerned public spaces have been closed for disinfection.
• 5. Nucleic acid testing has been rolled out for all personnel in designated epidemic zones. Meanwhile, an expert panel has been formed at the municipal level to oversee the testing process.
• 6. All efforts have been invested in carrying out standardized medical treatment based on the principle of concentrated patients, experts, and resources. Western and Chinese medical approaches have been combined in treatment plans.

As of 2 pm on July 30th, there have been 141 close contacts and 140 secondary contacts traced in the districts of Jiangjin and Dadukou district Chongqing. Four negative results have been obtained from 133 samples taken so far, with the remainder still under testing.