Fast detection of infections necessary to get ahead of virus

The epidemic situation in the country is still developing rapidly. At least 14 provincial level regions have reported new confirmed or asymptomatic cases over the past two weeks. The Ministry of Transport has suspended cross-city bus, taxi and ride-hailing services in cities with medium and high-risk areas in response to local outbreaks, and the railway authorities have suspended passenger train services from the affected areas to Beijing.

The country needs to give full play to the role of nucleic acid testing to cut the transmission chains.

This wave of the virus has many outbreak spots, covers a wide area and has long transmission chains. And the risk of new outbreaks caused by imported cases remains high. The country must be on high alert.

The latest cluster of infections appearing over the weekend is not related to the recent local epidemic in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Gansu province, but caused by an imported case in Heihe, Heilongjiang province, where neighborhood transmission has occurred.

As the weather turns cold and the epidemic in some neighboring countries intensifies, the prevention and control situation in China, especially in port areas, has become more severe and complex.

Local governments, particularly those in the border regions, should strengthen screening and closed-loop management of high-risk groups, strengthen epidemic surveillance, and take timely and decisive measures to prevent multiple outbreaks.

Epidemic prevention and control measures at ports should be strictly carried out.

The community grid management that has proved effective should be strengthened. Grassroots government departments should ensure supplies of food and daily necessities to the households in the neighborhoods that are being put under closed-loop management, and provide the residents with all necessary psychological counseling.

At present, Beijing is at the critical stage in its efforts to control the spread of the virus. Thanks to the timely measures the city has taken and the support of residents, there has been no sign of community transmission or spread of the virus. Residents should take the initiative to avoid gatherings and practice all necessary personal protection measures so as to do their parts in the fight against the virus.

- Beijing Youth Daily