The transmission chain of the Xi'an epidemic has increased to 242 cases! 6 places have been linked. How did the epidemic spill over?

On the morning of December 23, Yuncheng, Shanxi reported the discovery of a person who tested positive for nucleic acid. He had previously delivered vegetables to Zhuque Market in Chang'an District, Xi'an. So far, the Xi'an epidemic has been linked to six cities, including Dongguan, Guangdong, Xianyang and Yan'an, Shaanxi, Beijing, Zhoukou, Henan, and Yuncheng, Shanxi. How did the epidemic spread?

Dongguan, Guangdong: The first infected person stayed at Terminal T3 of Xianyang Airport on the same day as the confirmed case in Xi'an

The current round of Xi'an epidemic spillover was first discovered in Dongguan. According to the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, two asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were found in Dalang Town, Dongguan City on the 13th. They had taken flight CZ3226 from Xi'an Xianyang Airport to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport on December 4. Health Times previously found that they overlapped with the confirmed cases in Xi'an in time and space, and stayed at Terminal T3 of Xianyang Airport on the same day.

As of 0:00 on the 23rd, Dongguan has reported a total of 24 confirmed cases of new coronavirus pneumonia. According to the relevant person in charge of the Dongguan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, epidemiological investigation found that all cases were infected with the Delta variant of the virus, which was highly homologous to the genetic sequencing of cases in Xi'an, Shaanxi, and was the same transmission chain from the same overseas source.

After discovering local confirmed cases, Dongguan City further stepped up its epidemiological investigation efforts, dug deep into all possible contacts of the cases, and ensured that all risk persons were placed under quarantine and control. According to the Dongguan City COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control press conference, since some cases tested positive after multiple tests, Dongguan City increased the frequency of nucleic acid screening, dynamically adjusted the screening scope, and conducted multiple rounds of nucleic acid screening to promptly resolve potential transmission risks.

Lei Zhenglong, deputy director of the Disease Control and Prevention Bureau of the National Health Commission, stated at a press conference of the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism on December 20 that the Xi'an-Dongguan related epidemic is still developing, and the risk of subsequent transmission in the two places is relatively high.

Xianyang and Yan'an, Shaanxi: The first confirmed case had contact with a confirmed case in Xi'an or related personnel

On December 16 and 19, positive cases were reported in Yan'an and Xianyang. The People's Daily Health Client found that the first confirmed case in Yan'an had dined with Yang, the second confirmed case in Xi'an, in Xi'an on the afternoon of December 11, and drove back to Yan'an on the 12th. He was observed at home after self-testing on December 15, and was transferred to a centralized isolation point on the afternoon of December 15; the first confirmed case in Xianyang had not been to Xi'an since December 4, and had contact with people from Xi'an on December 16 and 17. When the key population in Xianyang was checked, the nucleic acid results were found to be abnormal.

As of 0:00 on the 23rd, Xianyang and Yan'an have reported a total of 6 local confirmed cases.

Both Yan'an and Xianyang urgently updated their epidemic prevention and control measures after reporting new local confirmed cases.

Yan'an requires that people coming to or returning to Yan'an from other provinces and Xi'an must strictly check the negative nucleic acid test results within 48 hours, and take measures such as normal release, persuasion, isolation control and nucleic acid testing in a graded and classified manner; Xianyang requires that since December 4, people coming to or returning to Xianyang who have been to all medium- and high-risk areas in Xi'an must implement 14 days of home health monitoring and nucleic acid testing measures, and do not go out unless necessary while at home.

Beijing: The confirmed case in Tongzhou had lived in Xi'an for half a month

On December 19, a student from Huaqing Art Studio in Xiaobao Village, Songzhuang Town, Tongzhou District, Beijing, tested positive for nucleic acid. Epidemic investigation showed that the student returned to Xi'an to take the exam on November 28 and returned to Beijing on flight HU7338 from Xi'an on December 14.

According to CCTV News, as of 10:00 on the 21st, all the relevant risk personnel had undergone nucleic acid testing, and the results were all negative. At present, the Huaqing Studio in Songzhuang Town where the case is located has been designated as a closed-off area, implementing "regional closure, stay at home"; the area south of Songzhuang Town Huandao West Road, west of Xusong Road, east of Xiaobao Industrial Road, and north of the south gate of Huaqing Studio Wuming Road is designated as a control area, implementing "no one leaves the area, gatherings are strictly prohibited"; the entire Xiaobao Village is designated as a prevention area, implementing "strengthening social control and strictly restricting the gathering of people."

So far, Beijing has not reported any new local confirmed cases. The latest assessment by Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the source of this outbreak is relatively clear and the risk is controllable.

Zhoukou, Henan: A positive person from Shenqiu County concealed his condition and drove back from Xi'an. The police have filed a case

On December 22, the epidemic prevention and control headquarters of Shenqiu County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province issued a notice that the county found 4 positive cases in nucleic acid testing, who were people who drove back to Shenqiu from Xi'an.

The flow survey showed that confirmed case 1 and confirmed case 2 were husband and wife, and the two asymptomatic infected persons were husband and wife, and they were relatives of the confirmed case couple. The four people returned to Shenqiu by private car without waiting for the results after completing the nucleic acid test in Xi'an on the 18th. On the 19th, the confirmed case couple received a telephone notification from Shaanxi Normal University Hospital that the nucleic acid test results were abnormal. The two then reported to the local village cadres. On the 21st, the two tested positive for nucleic acid and were transferred to the isolation ward of Shenqiu County People's Hospital by special car. On the same day, another couple was also isolated, and the nucleic acid test results were positive, and they were determined to be asymptomatic.

On the evening of the 22nd, the Public Security Bureau of Shenqiu County, Zhoukou City issued a notice to initiate an investigation into the above four positive persons on suspicion of obstructing the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

After the local confirmed cases were discovered, the Zhoukou Municipal New Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic Prevention and Control Command Office issued a notice. In addition to requiring people with a travel history to medium- and high-risk areas and their local cities to report it voluntarily, it advocated that the general public celebrate the holiday during the week and not leave the week unless necessary.

Yuncheng, Shanxi: The positive person had traveled to Xi'an to deliver vegetables

Yuncheng Internet Information Office issued a notice on December 23rd stating that Jishan County found one person who tested positive for nucleic acid when investigating people returning from Xi'an. On December 23rd, the Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention re-confirmed that the nucleic acid test was positive, and the person was transferred to Yuncheng Second Hospital (Yuncheng Infectious Disease Hospital) by negative pressure ambulance for isolated medical observation.

The positive person is a 53-year-old male truck driver. The nucleic acid test was negative on the morning of December 19, 2021. He delivered vegetables to Zhuque Market in Chang'an District, Xi'an City at around 12 o'clock in the evening.

According to the Yuncheng City COVID-19 Prevention and Control Command, Yuncheng's five counties (cities), Hejin, Wanrong, Linyi, Yongji and Ruicheng, are adjacent to Shaanxi, and the risk of imported epidemics is extremely high. In addition to continuing to conduct in-depth and detailed epidemiological investigations in Xinxiang County and Jishan County, strengthening the investigation and control of risk personnel who have intersections with the activity trajectories of positive personnel, and quickly extinguishing the outbreak points, we must also pay close attention to changes in domestic medium- and high-risk areas, conduct a comprehensive survey and nucleic acid test of all people entering and returning to Yuncheng from Xi'an since December 5, and implement effective control measures.

(Source: Health Times)