Largest Outbreak Since Wuhan's: 8 Key Updates

Source: OT-Team(S,J), Global Times, CCTV News,

On July 30, CDC Nanjing announced that the source of the COVID pandemic outbreak has been identified.

While new cases are being detected in other cities across China, strict anti-pandemic measures are being implemented again in the main areas.

Here are the 8 key updates during the past 24 hours

1. Nanjing Epidemic is related to flight from Moscow

Flight CA910 from Moscow was identified as the source of the latest round of the COVID pandemic in Nanjing. 

The genetic sequences of the infected cleaners at Nanjing Airport, who were reported as confirmed cases at the beginning of the outbreak, are consistent with those of imported cases on flight CA910 that arrived in Nanjing on July 10 from Russia, local authority said.

Flight CA910 has been suspended for 10 times for carrying passengers who tested positive since June 2020.

Cleaning staff most likely got infected after not strictly adhering to personal protection requirements while cleaning the cabin of flight CA910, said Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Nanjing CDC) at a press release on Friday.

2. City lockdown in Zhangjiajie, Hunan

Zhangjiajie in Central China's Hunan Province has become another key point of resurgence of the COVID epidemic spreading across China. The city has made a fast response on the pandemic control by announcing the lockdown for whole city. 

On July 30, 11 areas are classified as medium risk ones in the city.

A performance held at Charming Xiangxi theater located in in Zhangjiajie, source: Global Times

All scenic spots, shopping venues, entertainment and leisure venues in the city are closed. 

For more info, please visit: COVID Outbreak - Spread in Crowded Theater, More Cities Affected

3. Over 400 local cases with Delta variant in the past 2 months

According to the Health Column of People’s Daily, more than 400 people have infected with the Delta viriant in China during the past two months.

Including the 167 cases in Guangzhou; 7 cases in Shenzhen; 91 cases in Yunnan so far; 187 reported in Nanjing until July 30, and related cases in other cities.

4. Nanjing airport to suspend all fights till August 11

 Nanjing airport has started to cut the number of both domestic and international flights in and out of the airport since July 26, and now all flights will be canceled till August 11. 

 
Re-opening time will depend on the pandemic control.

5. Chengdu airport cut off fights to avoid COVID spread

Since one airport staff in Chengdu Tianfu Airport was diagnosed as an Asymptomatic case, the airport have cut off flights from 269 to 98 on July 29 and then to only 9 on July 30.

The airport has organized multiple rounds of nucleic acid testing for all staff; and isolated the staff on spot; all airport terminals, working areas and living areas have been disinfected.

6. New policy for airport staff to avoid infection risk

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will implement new management policy, and make sure that employees working on international and domestic flights do not have contact.

Besides, the CAAC will increase the frequency of nucleic acid testing for employees and key frontline workers will take one test every two days.

Due to the new cases, Hunan has launched temporary rules for airport staff, all employees work in Zhangjiajie/ Changde/Huaihua airports are not allowed to go to the social public areas.

7. Chongqing has investigated 141 close contacts

Chongqing reported 2 local confirmed cases on July 30, which ended the good record of “no new local cases for more than 500 consecutive days”.

According to local CDC, 141 close contacts and 140 indirect-close contacts have been traced as of 14:00 on July 30, the testing results will be released later.

8. 2 high-risk and 37 medium-risk areas nationwide

There are 2 high-risk areas and 48 medium-risk areas in China as of July 30 afternoon.

Raising the alarm

“The Nanjing outbreak is the most extensive contagion after Wuhan”, reported by Global Times. 

It raised the alarm that anti-epidemic work must be further strengthened in airports, entry and exit ports and transportation hubs, experts warned.

A billboard outside a shopping mall reads "Nanjing, stand strong" on Wednesday.