Beijing's local case traceable, official says

The source of the locally transmitted case is clear and risk is controllable in the Chinese capital, a senior disease control and prevention official has said.

Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Center of Disease Control and Prevention, made the comment at a news conference on Monday after a new local confirmed case, plus three imported cases, were reported in Beijing on Sunday.

The local transmitted case, an art student at a studio in Songzhuang township in Beijing's Tongzhou district, had reportedly traveled to Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, to participate in an examination on Nov 28.

The student returned to Beijing by plane with a negative nucleic acid test result processed within the previous 48 hours on Dec 14. But the student, who developed symptoms on Friday, had a positive result after being tested again on Sunday.

The student was diagnosed as a local transmitted confirmed case by medical experts and has now been sent to a designated hospital for further medical observation and treatment, Pang said.

The student, who hails from Xi'an, has been studying painting in Beijing for about six months.

All 108 close contacts of the student have immediately been placed under quarantine, she said.

She reiterated Beijing will continue to implement the strategy of guarding against imported cases and a rebound in indigenous cases in the months to come as the city faces growing pressure to prevent and control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

With the new year and Spring Festival approaching, the flow of people will be more frequent, she said, adding "Beijing will soon organize the winter Olympic Games and the winter Paralympics."

Pang urged residents to spend the upcoming holidays in Beijing.