The strain causing the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, was identified by genetic sequencing as the Omicron variant BA.2.12.1, the Health Commission of Sichuan Province said on its official WeChat account on Sunday, noting that its homologous sequence has not been found in other local outbreaks in China.

In the global virus genome database, the mutation found in Chengdu is most similar to the virus genome sequence uploaded by Germany in May.

Chengdu reported eight local confirmed infections on Sunday, in addition to five asymptomatic cases. As of Sunday, the city had reported 14 confirmed infections and six asymptomatic cases, since local cases of this round of outbreak were first reported on July 15. The epidemiological investigation has not found the source of infection yet, the Health Commission of Sichuan Province noted.

Besides, the epidemic in Chengdu has the characteristics of fast transmission and a high proportion of confirmed cases. One of the important reasons is that the Omicron variant BA.2.12.1 is capable of rapid transmission, as CCTV reported, adding that studies have shown that the transmission rate of this variant is 1.2 times that of Omicron BA.2.

The Health Commission of Sichuan Province said in an official statement that the proportion of confirmed cases in Chengdu was high, with 14 of the 20 infections being confirmed cases. Most cases show symptoms such as fever, headache, runny nose, and sore throat, but the symptoms are generally mild.

Local health authorities reminded the public to pay attention to personal protection, to practice personal hygiene, avoid crowds, wear masks and ensure indoor ventilation.

At present, the Omicron variant BA.2.12.1 found in Chengdu has not been found to be associated with the recent local epidemic in other cities in the country, and the source tracing of the newly founded variant is in full progress.

Global Times