City in Jilin downgrades coronavirus risk

Shulan, a county-level city administered by Jilin city in Jilin province, has been downgraded to low-risk for COVID-19 based on the current situation, the provincial health commission said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement also reminded residents to maintain their awareness to protect their health.

Anyone who has symptoms, such as fever or dry cough, should receive a physical examination and treatment at a designated medical institution, it said.

Shulan raised its COVID-19 risk level to high on May 10 after a cluster of infections appeared in the city.

A 45-year-old woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Shulan on May 7 was tied to infections in several of her family members and others with whom she had close contact.

Before that, Jilin had gone without a new case for 73 days.

"Jilin city has reported no new local or imported cases for 10 consecutive days," said Zhao Yongbo, head of the city's publicity department. "However, the districts of Fengman and Changyi are still categorized as medium-risk."

She added: "The local government will continue to impose strict pandemic-control measures based on the standards for a high-risk region. We believe the final victory will come soon."

The province reported no new local or imported cases on Wednesday.

About 5,000 senior high school students returned to school on Wednesday after receiving coronavirus tests.

All the students will be allowed to enter to their classrooms once a second test is administered and comes up negative after their return.

They will live in the schools under strict lockdown until the time of the college entrance examination, or gaokao.