Expert gives update on Delta variant, vaccines
近日，钟南山发表了《新冠疫情的现状和判断》的演讲，他认为应高度重视南京此次疫情，并要尽可能在半个月内得到控制。此外，钟院士还发布最新研究结果，证明中国疫苗对德尔塔毒株依然有保护作用，需要有83.3%的人打了疫苗，才有可能建立群体免疫。
The outbreak of Delta variant of the coronavirus in Nanjing will be under control in a few weeks, Zhong Nanshan, the country's top epidemiologist, said on July 31.
He also released the latest research results confirming the effectiveness of the China-made vaccine against the mutated virus.
At a conference on indoor air purification held in Guangzhou, Zhong summarized the features of the Delta infections in Nanjing and gave his conclusions on containing its spread.
Compared with the sporadic outbreak in Guangzhou in May, the situation in Nanjing was more complicated, Zhong said, noting the wider distribution of infections.
Regarding the Delta variant, the concept of close contact was also updated, because the new variant comes with a higher viral load in a person's body and is much more contagious, Zhong said.
Zhong said the definition of close contact for Delta has been expanded to include any person with exposure to a confirmed case in the same room, workplace or building within four days of the onset of symptoms. The update has led to a significant change in management methods.
Recently, the severity and contagion of the Delta variant has raised concerns about the efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines. Zhong shared research results based on preliminary statistics from Delta patients in Guangzhou showing that China's vaccines offered protection against the new virus.
The protective effect of China's vaccine in cases of severe symptoms was 100 percent, and protection for moderate, mild, and asymptomatic patients was 76.9 percent, 67.2 percent, and 63.2 percent, respectively.
None of the 13 severe patients in previous outbreaks in Guangzhou had been vaccinated, Zhong said.
To defeat the pandemic, Zhong emphasized protective measures in communities and the establishment of herd immunity. In China, herd immunity may be achieved after 83.3 percent of Chinese people are inoculated, Zhong said.
Chinese mainland reports 90 new confirmed COVID-19 cases
The Chinese mainland reported 90 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on August 2, 61 locally transmitted and 29 imported, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday.
Of the local cases, 45 were detected in Jiangsu, six in Hunan, three in Hubei, two each in Henan and Yunnan, and one each in Beijing, Shanghai and Fujian.
Of the new imported cases, eight were detected in Yunnan, six in Guangdong, three each in Tianjin, Shanghai and Sichuan, two each in Jiangsu and Shaanxi, and one each in Fujian and Shandong, the National Health Commission said in its daily report.
A total of 87,400 cases had been discharged from hospitals after recovery while 1,157 remained hospitalized, including 24 in severe conditions, the commission said.
Source: China Daily
Editor: Annie