Changchun strengthens zero-COVID status

Changchun, Jilin province, will continue to strengthen and expand its zero-COVID status at the community level in some areas of the city, officials said on Monday.

"Jiutai District is sparing no effort to promote enterprises in the district to resume work in successive groups," Zhang Baozong, deputy director of the provincial publicity department, said at a news conference.

Five enterprises in Jiutai resumed production on Sunday, Jilin Daily reported.

Under COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control requirements, all staff members in restarted enterprises should take daily COVID-19 rapid antigen testing and at least one nucleic acid test every week.

The plant areas of the enterprises will be put under lockdown management, with no vehicles allowed to enter plant areas. Buffer zones will also be built to transfer products and receive raw materials and daily supplies.

Jiutai, the worst-hit area of the city in the latest outbreak of COVID-19, achieved zero-COVID status at the community level on Saturday, officials said at a news conference.

As of Saturday, the district had reported 9,222 confirmed cases since March 3, accounting around 94 percent of the city's total, said Huang Xianyu, Party secretary of the city.

Jilin province reported 187 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 797 asymptomatic carriers on Sunday, the provincial health commission said on Monday.

Of the confirmed cases, 102 were found in Changchun, 66 in Jilin city, 16 in Baicheng, two in Siping and one in Liaoyuan.

Of the asymptomatic carriers, 743 were identified in Changchun, 46 in Jilin city and seven in Liaoyuan and one in Baishan.

"Currently, daily supplies for residents in Changchun are stabilizing," Zhang said. "Fresh vegetables and other reserves are relatively sufficient and delivery channels are smoothing out to help meet the basic needs of residents."