Ahead of the Olympics, Omicron Spreads in Hangzhou, China... Beijing Remains Stable

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) holiday begins in China, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in Hangzhou.

According to the National Health Commission of China on the 1st, 13 new Omicron cases were reported in Hangzhou as of 6 p.m. the previous day. A total of 37 cases have been confirmed in Hangzhou over the past two days.

Since the first Omicron case was reported in Hangzhou on the 26th of last month, a total of 96 cumulative cases have been confirmed so far.

Hangzhou city authorities are tracking the movements of confirmed cases and have placed close contacts under focused quarantine.

Additionally, residential areas and nearby regions where cases have been detected have been locked down and nucleic acid testing is being conducted.

Currently, there are 13 medium- and high-risk areas in Hangzhou.

Beijing, where a cluster infection occurred ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics opening, is showing signs of stabilization. After 20 cases were reported on the 29th of last month, the number of cases decreased to 3 on the 30th and 2 on the 31st. Since the cluster infection began on the 15th of last month, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Beijing stands at 110.

Beijing Youth Daily analyzed, "The number of confirmed cases is effectively decreasing due to the strong quarantine policies implemented by Beijing city authorities."

Since the cluster infection occurred, Beijing city has conducted four rounds of comprehensive nucleic acid testing in the main affected area, Fengtai District, and has carried out daily nucleic acid testing for residents in high-risk areas.

Furthermore, all mail and packages arriving in Beijing are disinfected twice, raising the level of quarantine measures to the highest standard.

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