China Strengthens Vigilance Amid Surge in COVID-19 Cases in Heilongjiang Province

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Although the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in China has entered a lull, vigilance is rising again as new confirmed cases continue to emerge recently in Heilongjiang Province.

According to the National Health Commission of China (NHC) as of midnight on the 21st, among the 11 new confirmed cases, 7 are locally transmitted cases within mainland China, and 6 of these were reported in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. Among the 3 new suspected cases, 1 was also added in Heilongjiang Province.

Currently, the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in Heilongjiang Province is 47 in total, including 45 in Harbin and 2 in Mudanjiang. There are also 30 asymptomatic infected individuals, with Harbin having the highest number at 23.

Among the infected patients, many are medical staff, patients, and family members from the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and the Second Hospital of Harbin City, confirming a cluster infection within hospitals. The possibility that infected individuals have transmitted the virus to other regions has also increased.

The sudden increase in COVID-19 confirmed cases in Heilongjiang Province is presumed to be related to a Chinese infected patient who entered China from the United States on the 19th of last month. Epidemiological investigations revealed that more than 50 confirmed cases in the two hospitals where the Harbin cluster infection occurred are directly or indirectly related to her. Although this Chinese individual tested negative for COVID-19, it is known that she transmitted the virus to neighbors she came into contact with.

Currently, Heilongjiang Province is conducting epidemiological investigations on at least 4,106 people to determine close contact with confirmed cases and other factors to block the spread of infection. In Qiqihar, near Harbin, 1,685 people whose movement overlapped with confirmed COVID-19 cases in Harbin were identified. Among them, 615 visited the Harbin hospitals where cluster infections occurred, and 106 of these individuals have been placed under centralized quarantine.

As the spread of COVID-19 continues in Harbin City, 'lockdown-style management' of some residential areas has been resumed, and the scheduled reopening date for third-year middle school students, originally set for the 17th, has been postponed. Approximately 1,400 patrol officers are circulating throughout Harbin city to prevent gatherings of people.

Neighboring regions of Heilongjiang Province are also strengthening controls to block COVID-19 infections. Patients infected through contact with Heilongjiang cases have already been reported within Liaoning Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Yang Zhanxu, a professor at the Virology Research Institute of Wuhan University and an expert in infectious diseases in China, expressed concern, saying, "The virus spreading in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province may have been introduced from overseas, and Chinese people may react more sensitively to viruses imported from abroad. If this is not completely controlled, due to the current situation in China where daily life is resuming, the virus could spread more widely."

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