Chengdu on High Alert: New COVID-19 Cases

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• Several more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Chengdu.

• One confirmed case (Miss Zhao, 20), the granddaughter of the first two cases confirmed on December 6th in Pidu district, visited various bars, clubs and other locations.

• Chengdu on high alert, mass testing is ongoing.

Locally transmitted cases

Chengdu is expanding nucleic acid testing and carrying out virus gene sequencing to curb the spread of COVID-19 and identify the source of an outbreak after the city saw a total of five domestic cases in two days, authorities said. On Tuesday morning, three new COVID-19 cases were discovered, after two were reported on Monday, local health authorities announced. 

Zhu Xiaoping, the chief expert of Sichuan's anti-epidemic group, revealed that the houses of the first two patients, a couple, was severely contaminated by the virus, as environmental samples collected from a doorknob, switch, food stored in the fridge and a chopping board all tested positive.

The couple, a 69-year-old woman surnamed Lu and her husband living in Pidu district in the suburbs of Chengdu, were diagnosed as having COVID-19 on Monday, and the status of the community where they live has been lifted to medium risk. 

Their granddaughter is among the three new confirmed patients on Tuesday morning, most concerning are the travel and activities of Miss Zhao in the days prior to her diagnosis confirmation. An epidemiological investigation showed that the woman had been to various parts of the city, including a nail salon, restaurants and clubs. The other two were a couple who live in . 

Travel and activities of infected girl

Image: Map of clubs and bars that Miss Zhao visited last weekend.

Her activities in the days leading up to hospitalization have caused concern amongst many in Chengdu, see the timeline outlined below for details.

December 2-4th: Pidu

Miss Zhao had dinner at her grandparents home in Taiping Village, Pidu District, where she was exposed to the virus. Following dinner she went to her parents home, also in Taiping Village. Around 2pm on December 4th, Miss Zhao travelled by Chengdu metro to her shared rented apartment in Chenghua District, Chengdu.

December 5th: Chengdu City Center

Around 4pm, Miss Zhao and two female roommates travelled to shopping area by bus and metro. At Chunxi Road she visited a nail salon, ate malatang watched a movie at the cinema. After dinner Miss Zhao went to until midnight.

Four girls (two roommates, two friends) used car hailing to go to Haiwuliwhere they drank until 3am. At that time they travelled to Club by car hailing, where they stayed for half an hour until they returned home using car hailing.

December 6th: Club Hepburn

Around 9pm Miss Zhao travelled to with one roommate, where they stayed until midnight before going home.

December 7th:

Miss Zhao was admitted to hospital and tested positive for COVID -19.

Massive testing and latest updates

• Sites where cases have been active have been disinfected. 

• The city has immediately launched emergency plans. At present, the close contacts have been traced and sent for centralized isolation observation and nucleic acid testing (including dedicated location for free testing). 

• Massive testing is ongoing, focusing on the staff of all the places Miss Zhao visited, and several places in Pidu. As of 6am on December 8th, 24598 tests have been conducted, with four positive results.

Image: Testing at Hepburn Club. 

• To curb the spread of the virus, Wang Fengchao, the mayor of Chengdu, required the scope of nucleic acid testing to be expanded from the related township to all regions in the district of Pidu. The Global Times found the Pidu district is an area with a permanent resident population of about 1 million. 

• The local government has sealed off the Pidu District People's Hospital, where the patients received treatment, as well as the neighborhoods where the patients live.

• All schools and kindergartens in Pidu district will suspend class from Tuesday, while students and teachers must stay at home for quarantine and receive tests, the education department in Pidu district said. Pidu is home to some 21 universities and many schools.

• Health codes will have to be shown at lots of places again.

"We must immediately carry out large-scale testing and thoroughly investigate possible infections… and make sure there are no omissions out there," Wang stressed at a meeting on Monday afternoon. This is the first time that Chengdu has seen COVID-19 infections since March, Wang noted, calling for officials to pay great importance to the fight. 

Taipingcun (Pidu) = middle risk zone, Chengdu might follow

Image: 中视新闻

Stay safe

For the safety of you and other, please do protect yourself, and follow the guidelines of the authorities. Wear a mask, regularly wash your hands, and avoid crowded places.

If you've visited any of the venues mentioned above, please social distance yourself and get a test immediately. If you have symptoms, please visit the hospital for a COVID-19 test.

Sources: Global Times, 成都商报, 健康成都官微, 中视新闻.

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We are monitoring the situation closely, and will inform you as soon as we have more information. 

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