Local residents queue up to take nucleic acid tests in Beijing on November 14, 2022. Photo: IC

Beijing vows to allocate resources and tighten control in high-risk areas to curb the latest COVID-19 flare-up with scientific and precise epidemic prevention to combat the development of the epidemic, which shows an upward trend with a rising risk of transmissions at community level. 

Beijing reported 257 new local infections as of 3 pm on Monday, including 43 infections identified in communities, the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control announced at a press briefing on Monday. 

Chaoyang district reported 73 new infections as of 3 pm on Monday. In response to the scientific and precise requirement, Chaoyang will optimize and adjust the nucleic acid testing sites across the district, with more sites further to be allocated near residential compounds. 

According to Meng Rui, deputy head of the district, a total of 617 sites and 908 passages have been adjusted and 100 sites and 104 passages have been increased. After the adjustment, as many as 1,824 sites and 2,883 passages, will allow local residents to take nucleic acid tests more conveniently and benefit to locate personnel-at-risk more swiftly and quickly stop the virus from spreading. 

Meanwhile, the city stressed to step up epidemic prevention and control in densely personnel gathering places such as nursing homes, schools and hospitals. The authorities also urged fever clinics to stay open. 

The battle against the virus remains at a critical stage since multiple districts are involved in the new infections found at community level, Xu Hejian, spokesperson for the Beijing Municipal People's Government, said during the Monday briefing.

With the epidemic showing a sustained developing trend and the risks of transmission at community level increasing, resolute and decisive measures have to be adopted to interrupt hidden transmission and contain the rising trend of the epidemic with scientific and precise epidemic prevention and control, Liu Xiaofeng, deputy director of Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said at the briefing. 

The local epidemic prevention and control work group stressed on Monday morning to tighten the epidemic prevention and control scientifically and precisely to curb the flare-up as soon as possible, with each district optimizing control policies according to their specific situations. 

The work group urged the local health and disease control authorities to step up their supports to Chaoyang district, the key area of the latest flare-up. More attention has to be paid to mass nucleic acid testing at community level in the district to accurately assess the development of the epidemic and to cut off the chain of transmission of the virus as soon as possible. 

Global Times