• Expert says that there are currently two COVID epicentres in China. One is in Hebei province (Shijiazhuang and Xingtai), where the number of infected patients is still increasing. The other one is in Northeast China, particularly Heilongjiang, with Suihua (Wangkui county) as the center.
• The continued advance of the coronavirus in Wangkui has spread to at least eight cities in three provinces, leading to the infection of a super-spreader in neighboring Jilin Province who then transmitted the virus resulting in the infection of 102 others. Not only just in Heilongjiang, the current outbreak in Hebei has also seen an increasing number of silent carriers being detected. As of Sunday, Hebei has reported 356 asymptomatic infections in 15 days since January 2.
A medical worker conducts a nucleic acid test on a boy in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Wednesday. Dalian launched a citywide testing on Tuesday in response to a resurgence of COVID-19. On Wednesday, one new confirmed case and eight asymptomatic patients were reported in the city. Photo: VCGRecent outbreaks: 196 + 184
Per to the National Health Commission, 196 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 184 asymptomatic infections were reported in China on January 17 and 18. Below is the distribution of the infected patients.
Hebei: 89 + 8
Per Hebei CDC, 89 newly diagnosed cases and 8 asymptomatic cases were reported in Shijiazhuang and Xingtai last two days. As of January 18, a total of 745 confirmed cases and 190 asymptomatic infections have been reported in Shijiazhuang.
Jilin: 73 + 51
According to the Health Commission of Jilin Province, 73 locally confirmed cases (22 in Changchun City and 51 in Tonghua City) and 51 asymptomatic infections were reported across the province on January 17 and 18.
Heilongjiang: 31 + 124
As per the Heilongjiang Provincial Health Commission, there were 31 confirmed cases, including 30 in Suihua and 1 in Qiqihar; and 124 asymptomatic infections, namely 106 in Suihua, 14 in Harbin and 4 in Qiqihar, were reported last two days.
Beijing: 3 + 1
Per Beijing CDC, from January 17 to January 18, there were three newly diagnosed cases and one asymptomatic infection in Beijing, all living in Tiangongyuan Street, Daxing District.
Increase of asymptomatic infections
Silent carrier may result in virus spreading faster, wider
An incident regarding one COVID-19 super-spreader, who was initially identified as a silent carrier linked to 102 confirmed cases, has continued simmering in China, triggering widespread public concern over the growing rate of silent carriers emerging in recent domestic cluster infections potentially resulting in major outbreaks that are more difficult to control, with discussion arising on whether China needs to implement stricter measures to manage asymptomatic infections.
Chinese health experts believe asymptomatic infections that are harder to detect could pose an even more dangerous threat for local epidemic control and prevention than those confirmed cases, resulting in the coronavirus spreading faster and wider with the number of confirmed cases increasing exponentially if local authorities fail to find and manage silent carriers in a timely manner.
In addition, China's response to asymptomatic carriers has developed in line with the understanding of the silent infections. In the future, China may adjust its response according to a more in-depth understanding if questions remain unanswered, experts said.
The increasing number of silent carriers has sparked widespread public concern, as the hashtag 'why have more silent carriers been reported?' made the hot topic list on Sina Weibo on Monday with more than 400 million views as of press time.
Many netizens have raised questions on whether the virus is more contagious among silent carriers and how the Chinese authorities could tackle the growing challenges posed by these asymptomatic infections.
The number of silent carriers has not dramatically increased in the recent outbreaks in Hebei and Heilongjiang provinces compared with previous outbreaks occurring in 2020. In general, silent infections are less contagious and possess a lower viral load than confirmed cases although in extreme cases, such as the Jilin super-spreading incident, infectivity may reach a high point, a Chinese health expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.
Hebei to reexamine COVID-19 results after testing agency conceals positive cases
The governor of North China's Hebei Province has demanded a rescreening of all COVID-19 testing results carried out by third-party agencies in a bid to detect loopholes or falsifying of data, after one of the agencies in charge of sample processing in Longyao county, Xingtai reportedly hid three positive results, despite the coronavirus outbreak ravaging the region.
Jinan Huaxi Medical Laboratory, which was hired to process COVID-19 tests in Longyao, reported on Thursday to the local health commission that it had finished the analysis of some 310,000 swab samples taken from the county's residents, which had all returned negative results, when in fact it had not even completed the testing.
Two days later, the company made a different claim, saying that a set of samples had tested positive. The county immediately carried out an investigation, which found two confirmed cases and one asymptomatic case on Sunday, while exposing the lab's false reporting of the samples that it had received. Police detained the person in charge of the company.
High & Medium-Risk Areas in China
If you've visited any of the areas below, or your office/ living address is registered in one of those areas, you might risk being quarantined when you visit another city or region.
Currently there are 4 high-risk area and 62 middle-risk areas in China. The high-risk areas are located in Hebei (Shijiazhuang/ Xingtai) and Heilongjiang (Suihua), the middle-risk areas are located in Beijing (Shunyi/ Daxing), Liaoning (Dalian & Shenyang), Heilongjiang (Heihe/ Suihua/ Qiqi Haier/ Harbin/ Daqing), Hebei (Shijiazhuang, Xingtai & Langfang) and Jilin (Changchun/ Gongzhuling/ Tonghua).
Click on the images to enlargeIf you've visited any of the areas mentioned above, please socially distance and get a test immediately. If you have symptoms, please visit the hospital for a COVID-19 test.
Updated COVID travel restrictions in 31 provinces/ cities
Amid growing concerns of another round of COVID-19 infections over the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush, most provinces and cities in China have issued specific travel restriction.
Click here to check the responses and measurements from 31 local CDC/ governments of Chinese provinces/cities on whether the returnees need nucleic acid testing and centralized quarantine before/after arrival.
For specific epidemic prevention policies, you can consult the local authorities (area code + 12345) or epidemic prevention command center (area code + 12320) in advance to confirm the latest anti-epidemic measures.
Make sure to apply for the local health code when traveling.
Image: Xinhua
Source: CDC疾控人, 人民日報，Global Times, China Daily.
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