Heilongjiang wrestles with COVID outbreak

Dressed in a neat school uniform with a red scarf, Liu Yingjin participated in a flag-raising ceremony on Thursday morning, the first day of the new semester of fourth grade at his primary school.

However, instead of standing on the school playground, the 9-year-old from Harbin, Heilongjiang province, participated in the ceremony online because of the recent COVID-19 outbreak in the city.

According to a notice released by the city's epidemic control and prevention headquarters on Saturday, all kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools and vocational schools will be suspended and will provide courses online.

"After the long summer vacation, I am really missing my teachers and classmates, but now we still can't get together," Liu said. "I am looking forward to returning to my classroom where I can have more and better communication with them."

Heilongjiang reported nine new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 130 asymptomatic carriers on Wednesday, its health commission said on Thursday.

Among the confirmed cases, six were found in Harbin and three in Daqing. Of the asymptomatic carriers, seven were found in Harbin and 123 in Daqing.

Starting on Wednesday, public traffic, including highways, railways, airplanes and other urban traffic entrances and exits have been under controlled management, and all residents and vehicles except for those engaged in special requirements are prohibited from leaving Daqing, according to a notice released by the city's epidemic control and prevention headquarters on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, there were 42 confirmed cases and 341 asymptomatic carriers in Heilongjiang, the commission said.