Guizhou screens contacts of its locally transmitted COVID-19 case

The city of Zunyi in Southwest China's Guizhou province reported one locally transmitted COVID-19 case on Oct 19 and one asymptomatic case that was in close contact with the previous case on Oct 20.

The first case was reported by Huichuan district and the second one was reported by Honghuagang district. Both patients have been transferred to Guiyang's Jiangjunshan Hospital for further treatment.

Zunyi immediately established an emergency response headquarters and organized 50 investigation teams to screen the contacts of the two patients. By 14:00 on Oct 20, Zunyi had screened 4,852 contacts, all of whom received nucleic acid tests.

The 158 close contacts are undergoing epidemiological investigation and quarantine. Their residences and designated quarantine hotels have been disinfected.

Local government will guarantee food, drinking water, and medical supplies to prevent and control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Liu Zheng, executive deputy head of Zunyi's Huichuan district, said at a news conference held on Oct 20 that the district's rice and edible oil stocks are enough for 30 days, and its vegetable and meat stocks are enough for more than 100 days.

Medical supplies in the district are enough for more than 30 days of supply and include 430,000 surgical masks, 27,000 medical protective masks, 32,000 pairs of examination gloves, 5,000 battles of quick-drying hand disinfectant, 1,338 goggles, 10,488 face shields, and 7,663 isolation gowns.

Zunyi is requiring all people who have come into contact with the confirmed cases to report to their resident communities and employers and follow local pandemic prevention and control requirements.

All residents of Zunyi should avoid traveling to other cities and provinces, especially high-risk areas. Those who need to travel should receive nucleic acid tests before departing and protect themselves during their trip.

After returning to Zunyi from the trip, people should report to their residential communities and employers and are encouraged to receive one nucleic acid test within 48 hours of arriving and monitor their health condition.

Zunyi's health departments remind all the people to observe social distancing, wear masks, get vaccinated, and go to their nearest fever clinic when suspicious symptoms appear.