15 COVID-19 Cases Reported in Harbin, China... Emergency Ahead of National Day Holiday

Existing epicenter Fujian Province adds 15 more cases... Situation calming down
24 additional imported cases... Concerns over massive influx of tourists

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] In Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China, 15 new local COVID-19 cases have been reported in large numbers, putting health authorities on high alert. Chinese health officials are concerned that the spread may worsen as a large influx of people is expected ahead of the National Day holiday.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 24th, the National Health Commission of China (NHC) announced that there were 30 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in China on that day, with 15 of them occurring in Harbin. The remaining 15 cases were newly reported in Fujian Province, which was already a known hotspot.

Harbin city authorities confirmed that all 15 newly identified cases were infected with the Delta variant. Additional infections in Putian and Xiamen cities of Fujian Province, known as existing Delta variant hotspots in China, were reported as 4 and 11 cases respectively. The SCMP reported that health authorities believe the spread in Fujian Province has begun to subside.

Since the previous day, Harbin city authorities have been conducting COVID-19 testing for residents, and upon signs of resurgence, they have closed public places and issued movement restrictions.

The NHC also reported 24 imported COVID-19 cases on the 24th. Yunnan Province accounted for 13 cases, Shanghai 9 cases, and Fujian and Guangdong provinces each reported 1 additional case. Especially with the National Day holiday approaching and a large population movement expected, health authorities are reportedly on high alert.

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