Changsha holds press conference on COVID-19 prevention and control

Changsha held a press conference on COVID-19 prevention and control on March 27. Since March 14, a total of 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in Changsha. All of them were infected by a sub-variant of Omicron known as BA.2, with clear transmission chains found. All the infected are in stable condition and are being isolated. Changsha will strive to achieve the maximum prevention and control effect at the lowest cost.

On March 26, a confirmed COVID-19 case was found during a regional nucleic acid testing in Yuelu District, and a teacher in Yali Middle School tested positive during Yuhua District’s second round of nucleic acid testing. The two confirmed cases have 1,025 close and sub-close contacts, all of whom are under centralized quarantine. Lockdown, control and prevention areas and five medium-risk areas were designated. Previously, Changsha had demarcated 4 medium-risk areas, 12 lockdown areas, 10 control areas and 7 prevention areas.

After the outbreak, Changsha quickly traced the source of the epidemic. Since March, a total of 3,450 close contacts and 2,325 sub-close contacts have been screened, and all of them have been put under medical observation at designated places. Nucleic acid screening has been carried out in areas, with nucleic acid tests conducted once a day in the lockdown and control areas, and four times a week in the prevention areas. Since March 12, a total of 23,935,400 nucleic acid samples have been tested in the city. Changsha also put into operation 18 makeshift laboratories to help fight the epidemic, with its daily maximum nucleic acid testing capacity reaching 1.08 million tubes.

As the number of people whose health QR codes have turned yellow increased recently, Changsha designated 17 hotels to accommodate yellow code holders. In addition, 108 free nucleic acid testing sites for yellow code holders were set up. In accordance with the requirements of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, Changsha started the construction of a makeshift hospital, which can provide an additional of 2,450 beds.

Translator: Kuang Zhenzhen