A medical worker collects a swab sample from a student for nucleic acid testing at No. 9 middle school in Longyan, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sep 15, 2021.Photo:Xinhua

Although the latest COVID-19 epidemic flare-up in East China's Fujian Province was judged by experts to still be in its "rising phase," no cross-province transmission has been identified during the first week of the outbreak, with the rapid and decisive response by local authorities credited with keeping the virus contained.

While the epidemic in Fujian is still severe, no cross-province transmission is good news for many 

Chinese outside high-risk areas who plan to travel throughout the upcoming holiday break.

Wuhan-based virologist Yang Zhanqiu reassured the public by encouraging them not to cancel any travel plans to low-risk areas while following personal protective measures. Yang told the Global Times on Friday that this outbreak would not be a mortal blow to the domestic tourism sector. 

Zhangzhou became the fourth city following Putian, Xiamen, Quanzhou in Fujian that reported COVID-19 cases. The city recorded one confirmed case on Friday after the patient tested positive on Thursday. The patient is a close contact of a Xiamen-based confirmed case.

The province reported another 61 cases on Friday, lifting the total number of the cases in this outbreak to 261. Among the cases reported on Friday, 31 were in Xiamen, 28 in Putian, one in Quanzhou and another in Zhangzhou.

The youngest patient found on Thursday in Xiamen was only three years old.

Putian identified two patients of being "seriously ill," for the first time in this outbreak, according to a press conference on Friday. The two patients were identified as a 37-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman.

According to the medical expert team from China's National Health Commission dispatched to Fujian, the latest local outbreak is still in its "rising phase" with the situation remaining severe. 

The national expert group said no spillover of the epidemic to other province has been identified, warning other cities in Fujian to be vigilant over potential transmission. 

The national expert team said many confirmed cases in Putian were minors who often present with only mild symptoms, noting that Fujian has sent an additional 50 pediatric doctors and nurses to support medical workers in the city.