New cases of coronavirus infection have been re-detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which has not been recorded there in over a year. Local authorities ordered mass screening of all 11 million inhabitants on Tuesday.
The Wuhan city medical service reported on Monday finding infections in seven migrant workers. These are the first new local cases recorded in the city since the city managed to contain the first wave of the pandemic after an unprecedented lockdown of more than two months in spring 2020.
The wave of Delta virus infections
China is currently facing the largest wave of infections to date with a dangerous variant of the Delta. The first infections were detected in mid-July in Nanjing, and from there the pathogen spread to at least eight other regions through, among others, tourists visiting a well-known attraction in Hunan province.
In total, more than 400 symptomatic cases have been detected in China since mid-July, in which the infection occurred in the country. According to the authorities, the first Delta variant was infected by employees of the Nanjing airport cleaning the cabin of a plane arriving from Russia.
Coronavirus has struck again in WuhanALY SONG / Reuters / Forum
Zero tolerance strategy
With the first wave of infections under control, Chinese authorities have adopted a “zero tolerance” policy for the coronavirus and are responding vigorously to small outbreaks that occasionally occur in the country. They also apply large restrictions on the possibility of entering from abroad and strict quarantine of visitors.
In recent days, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, local authorities in some cities and regions have further tightened checks on travelers. Some of the cities where infections have been detected are screened, and some Beijing neighborhoods are locked down.
Main photo source: ALY SONG / Reuters / Forum