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On September 14, there was a long queue outside a nucleic acid testing site in Xiamen.
A new wave of COVID-19 has emerged in Fujian Province, China, and a local elementary school has concentrated infections.
According to official data, this wave of epidemic began on September 10. As of 24:00 on September 13, Beijing time, the number of local confirmed cases in Fujian has reached 102, involving the three cities of Putian, Xiamen and Quanzhou. Putian City, where the epidemic was first detected, has a total of 64 confirmed cases, including 28 elementary school students and 8 children in kindergartens. In addition, there are 21 cases of asymptomatic infections, and Chinese official statistics have not listed such infections as confirmed.
The earliest case may be the father of one of the students, who tested positive last week.
In the following four days, officials have announced 102 confirmed cases. Fujian authorities have ordered teachers and students at all levels of the province to complete testing within a week.
This latest wave of outbreaks occurred one month after the Nanjing epidemic was under control-the Nanjing outbreak was the worst in mainland China since Wuhan last year.
Putian City, Fujian Province, with a permanent population of about 3 million, is one of the most concentrated areas in the new wave of epidemics.
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Putian City, where the epidemic was first discovered, began to implement large-scale testing, and asked people in Putian not to leave the city unless necessary.
The first large number of confirmed cases was alleged to be related to an elementary school.
It is currently suspected that the source of this wave of outbreak is the father of one of the students. He tested positive on September 10, and he returned to China from Singapore on August 4, 38 days ago.
The Chinese state media “Global Times” reported that he has been quarantined for 21 days during which he has undergone nine nucleic acid tests, all of which were negative.
It is currently unknown whether the student’s father was infected overseas, because such a long incubation period is very unusual.
At the same time, officials have taken measures to try to prevent further outbreaks of the epidemic.
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Universities are also affected. Xiamen University adjusted the opening ceremony for freshmen and implemented it online, placing the original students’ positions in mineral water bottles.
All schools in Putian City have been closed. Anyone who leaves the city must have a negative nucleic acid test certificate within 48 hours.
Public places such as movie theaters, museums, and libraries are known to suspend all indoor activities, while restaurants are required to restrict business hours.
Neighboring cities such as Xiamen and Quanzhou are also affected-Xiamen’s gyms and bars are closed.
On Monday (September 14), Xiamen officials stated that a total of 35 cases have been diagnosed, most of which can be traced back to Putian. According to the Global Times, preliminary studies have shown that the virus infected by these confirmed cases belongs to the Delta variant.
This wave of outbreak coincides with the approaching of the National Day Golden Week holiday on October 1. The mainland of China usually has millions of people traveling during this long holiday.
This Sunday, mainland China will first usher in the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday for three consecutive days.