COVID-19 Case Reported in China After 57 Days

As of the 11th, Qingdao reports 6 confirmed cases and 6 asymptomatic cases
Nucleic acid testing conducted for 10 million Qingdao residents

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 since August 16.

According to the online media outlet Pengpai on the 12th, the Qingdao Municipal Health Commission in Shandong Province announced that as of 11 p.m. on the 11th (local time), 6 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6 asymptomatic infections were detected.

All 12 individuals are reported to be connected to the Qingdao Thoracic Hospital.

Qingdao City announced the previous day that it had identified 3 asymptomatic infections related to this hospital and conducted tests on 377 close contacts, hospital medical staff, and patients.

As a result, 9 additional positive cases were confirmed. Among them, 4 are confirmed cases, and 2 of the previously asymptomatic infections later developed symptoms and were reclassified as confirmed cases. In China, asymptomatic infections without symptoms such as fever or cough are not included as confirmed cases.

Accordingly, Qingdao City decided to conduct nucleic acid testing for the approximately 10 million residents of Qingdao. The city plans to complete testing for the entire population within 5 days.

Testing is already underway for about 160,000 close contacts, medical staff, and hospitalized patients, with approximately 154,000 tests completed so far.

The Shandong provincial government has decided to mobilize resources at the provincial level to support Qingdao’s nucleic acid testing efforts. The National Health Commission under the central government also plans to dispatch a response team to Qingdao on the same day.

The Global Times reported concerns that the Thoracic Hospital, where the COVID-19 patients in Qingdao are connected, was a facility treating imported COVID-19 cases, raising fears of a breach in handling imported cases.

However, a representative of the Thoracic Hospital explained that the area with COVID-19 patients is separated from other areas, making the risk of cross-infection very low.

As COVID-19 cases surge in Qingdao, other cities are also on alert.

Dalian City in Liaoning Province requested residents the previous day not to visit Qingdao. Additionally, those who have visited Qingdao since September 27 are required to report their travel history.

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