Concerns Over Novel Coronavirus Spreading to Major Cities... China Says "The 4 Weeks After Chunje Are Crucial"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Chinese government stated that the current level of population movement is six times greater than during the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak, warning that the next four weeks following the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), when the return to major cities intensifies, will be critical in the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.

According to reports on the 10th from 'Fenghuangwang' and others, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planning authority, noted that compared to the SARS period in 2003, due to the influence of the economic development plan '13th Five-Year Plan' (2016?2020), 75% of China's total population is concentrated in 19 urban regions including Beijing.

With the development of transportation infrastructure such as high-speed rail, population mobility has surged, and the current scale of nationwide population movement is six times that of the SARS period. There are concerns that the return to work after the Spring Festival will cause a peak in mobility. In other words, due to advancements in the economy and transportation compared to the past, the spread of this novel coronavirus is expected to be faster and wider.

Accordingly, as large numbers of people flock to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Changsha, and Hefei after the Spring Festival, these cities are expected to face a severe test regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus over the next four weeks.

Meanwhile, China is also accelerating the development of a novel coronavirus vaccine. The Chinese research team succeeded in isolating the virus from a COVID-19 patient on the 24th of last month and on the 9th administered vaccine samples to 100 experimental mice, currently monitoring their progress.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.