COVID spreads rapidly in Chongqing

Chongqing has seen a rapid spread of COVID-19 virus infections, with the number of new local cases reaching 4,683 on Saturday and surpassing 4,000 for four consecutive days, according to municipal health authorities.

"The situation is serious and complex," said Li Pan, deputy director of the Chongqing Health Commission at a news conference on Sunday.

Chongqing reported 231 new confirmed local cases and 5,898 new asymptomatic carriers on Sunday, the commission said on Monday.

From Nov 1 to Sunday at noon, Chongqing has reported more than 32,000 locally transmitted COVID-19 infections.

Li said the central urban districts remain the epicenter of this round of the outbreak in the city. The proportion of new cases via community transmission was 14.67 percent on Saturday — a nearly 50 percent decrease in two days. The decrease means the policy of coordination and community control practices that were implemented in the city's central urban districts have achieved positive results.

On Saturday, the number of new cases in districts and counties on the outskirts of Chongqing was 997, accounting for 21.3 percent of the total. Of those, 12 districts and counties account for 94.28 percent of the total. The epidemic in Liangping district and in Dianjiang and Xiushan counties is surging rapidly, with new cases reaching 211, 200 and 177 respectively.

To help enterprises and individuals through difficulties, the city has unveiled a mortgage help plan. Individuals, as well as small and micro companies hit by the economic downturn will be able to defer mortgage payments.