New COVID-19 Cases in China Reach Triple Digits... Heightened Concern Over Community Spread

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] As the number of new community COVID-19 cases in China has reached triple digits for the first time this year, tension is rising as patients related to Hebei and Heilongjiang provinces have been found in other regions as well.

According to the National Health Commission of China on the 13th, a total of 107 new community cases were reported on the 12th from Hebei Province (90 cases), Heilongjiang Province (16 cases), and Shanxi Province (1 case). This is the first time since July 29 last year, when COVID-19 spread in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, that new community cases have exceeded 100. Including 8 imported cases, the total number of new confirmed cases on the 12th was 115, surpassing the previous record of 103 on the 10th.

Hebei Province, adjacent to the capital Beijing, has a cumulative total of 610 cases this year, including 395 confirmed cases and 215 asymptomatic infections. Hebei Province fully locked down three cities?Shijiazhuang, Xingtai, and Langfang?with a combined population of 22 million to control residents' movement. China is restricting movement between Beijing and surrounding areas, but concerns remain high as a commuter from Hebei to Beijing has already tested positive.

Patients related to Hebei Province have also been reported in neighboring Shanxi Province, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, and Zhejiang Province. Jinzhong in Shanxi Province declared a state of emergency and implemented 24-hour control over highways and other areas.

Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission, said, "It has been 11 days since the first confirmed case in Hebei Province. Usually, it takes 2 to 3 weeks for new cases to disappear," adding, "The infection in Hebei Province will be controlled soon."

The National Health Commission stated that regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) investigation team visiting China on the 14th to investigate the origin of COVID-19, it is necessary to investigate not only Wuhan in Hubei Province, where COVID-19 was first identified last year, but also other countries.

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