Virology experts believe that one of the most important reasons for the surge in local cases in a short period of time is that this time it is faced with Omicron BA.2, the “upgraded version” Omicron.
Writing | Jun Ling
Source | “Medical Community” Public Account
According to the National Health and Medical Commission, from 0:00 to 24:00 on March 12, mainland China reported 1,807 new confirmed local cases and 1,315 local asymptomatic infections.
Jilin Province, the most severely affected province, reported 2,156 new cases of COVID-19 in one day. Yesterday, Jilin City launched the seventh round of nucleic acid testing, and the fourth makeshift hospital is under construction.
The “medical community” noticed that Jilin City, Hunchun City, Changchun City in Jilin Province, Weihai City, Zibo City, Dezhou City in Shandong Province, Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province…, The source of the virus detected in many places is Omikron BA.2, which is called an “upgraded version” of Omikron. After it appeared at the beginning of the year, it spread rapidly around the world, and the number of cases surged. It is believed to be more severe than the original Omikron. The infectivity of BA.1 increased by 1.3 to 1.5 times.
3,122 new infections were added in one day, the most serious since the Wuhan epidemic subsided, and the epidemic prevention situation in mainland China is once again facing a severe test.
Why does Jilin Province add 2000+ in a single day?
Yesterday, Jilin Province added 2,156 new infections in one day, more than the total number of infections in the past 10 days.
On the 11th, Zhao Qinglong, director of the Emergency Office of the Jilin Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a press conference on epidemic prevention and control that the current round of epidemic in Jilin Province was caused by a new imported virus.
Virology expert Chang Rongshan told the “medical community” that it is not the first time that the mainland has faced pressure from overseas imports. Although the pressure of a new round of foreign import prevention has increased sharply as overseas countries have gradually “opened up”, one of the most important reasons for the surge in local cases in a short period of time is that this time it was faced by Omicron BA. 2.
“The transmissibility of the Omikron Bidelta variant has increased by 37.5%, and BA.2 is about 30% higher than the previously popular BA.1.” Zhao Qinglong on today’s epidemic said at a press conference on prevention and control.
“Another reason is that a large number of people have been vaccinated for more than 3 months. In the face of Omicron, the protection of the vaccine has been greatly reduced, and this time The BA.2 strain has a strong immune escape ability.” Chang Rongshan said.
Currently, Jilin Province has multiple outbreaks, and there has been campus transmission and community transmission. In the past two days, the number of new cases reported by Jilin Province has increased from 400 to 2,156 within 24 hours. The Jilin Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday that according to the transmission power of BA.2, if there is community transmission, the number of infected cases can double in 2 to 3 days.
Changchun medical staff infected,
“Insufficient capacity expansion of medical resources in individual regions”
Jilin Provincial Tuberculosis Hospital also reported infections among medical staff and patients.
It is reported that in Jiutai District, Changchun City, where the Jilin Provincial Tuberculosis Hospital is located, the community transmission of the epidemic is in a period of rapid increase, and closed management has been implemented.
In addition to the spread of the BA.2 strain, at today’s press conference on epidemic prevention and control, Zhao Qinglong said that the number of confirmed infections in the province has increased significantly, also because:
In the face of the rapidly rising epidemic situation in some areas, the capacity of medical resources to expand is insufficient, resulting in limited centralized treatment in a short period of time;
Inadequate emergency response mechanisms in individual regions, lack of understanding and inaccurate research and judgment on the characteristics of the Omicron virus and the severe and complex epidemic situation;
The implementation of the decision-making and deployment of the provincial party committee and the provincial government is not in place and not thorough;
There is still a gap between the implementation of “every inspection should be done, every quarantine should be isolated, every treatment should be treated, and one should be managed despite”.
Yesterday morning, @jilin posted a message on Weibo: The Jilin Provincial Party Committee has decided to remove Wang Lu’s deputy secretary, standing committee and member of the Jilin Municipal Party Committee, and mayor of Jilin City; remove Li Xin The mayor of Jiutai District, Changchun City.
Yesterday evening, @changchun posted a message on Weibo: The Changchun Municipal Party Committee decided to remove Gao Yutang’s party secretary and director (director) of the Changchun Municipal Health Commission (Changchun Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine). position; Li Xin was removed from the positions of deputy secretary, standing committee member and member of the Jiutai District Committee.
What is the next focus of epidemic prevention and control? Zhao Qinglong also emphasized at today’s epidemic briefing: expanding the scope of nucleic acid screening, speeding up flow investigation and transfer isolation.
“Continuously carrying out multiple rounds of nucleic acid testing is to quickly clear the warehouse to the bottom.” Zhao Qinglong said, “The next step will be to promote the monitoring mode of ‘antigen screening, nucleic acid diagnosis’, and the public can purchase tests by themselves. It is beneficial to achieve early detection and improve the sensitivity of monitoring and early warning.”
Currently, the two most severely affected cities in Jilin Province are:
Jilin City, has completed 6 rounds of nucleic acid testing for all staff, has 3 Fangcang shelter hospitals, and the fourth Fangcang shelter hospital is under construction, which is expected to provide more than 2,000 beds.
Changchun City, Jiutai District has completed 3 rounds of nucleic acid testing, otherThe urban area has also completed two rounds of nucleic acid testing, and a makeshift hospital is under construction. It is reported that it covers an area of 15,000 square meters and is divided into four exhibition halls for construction with a total of 1,500 beds.
The epidemic is “multi-faceted and wide-ranging”, and epidemic prevention is in full swing in various places
In addition to Jilin Province, epidemic prevention is also in full swing.
“This epidemic is the most severe and complex one faced by our province.” Today, at a press conference held by the Shandong Provincial Government Information Office, Zhang Lixiang, deputy director of the Provincial Health Commission, said.
There have been 581 confirmed cases in this round of epidemic in Shandong Province, mainly in 4 cities, Weihai, Zibo, Dezhou, and Qingdao. The six main transmission chains involved are all from different sources. .
Weihai City, Zibo City, Dezhou City, the source of the virus is Omicron BA.2, and the three different transmission chains in Qingdao are the evolutionary branch of Omicron BA.1.1.
The epidemic situation in Qingdao is the most serious. At present, the cases are basically concentrated in Laixi City (hosted by Qingdao City), and the source is unknown.
Yesterday reported 150 new confirmed cases and 76 asymptomatic infections.
If it is not necessary to leave Qingqing, all kinds of closed entertainment service places are temporarily closed. Yesterday, Qingdao City also announced that the seventh round of nucleic acid testing for all staff in Laixi City will be launched.
Beijing added 7 new cases of new crown infection yesterday, and the epidemic also showed the characteristics of “multi-faceted and wide-ranging”.
At today’s Beijing epidemic prevention and control press conference, Yang Peng, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced that since March 7, the city has reported a total of 30 local new coronavirus infections , involving 5 districts, and 6 chains of imported transmission outside Beijing appeared.
Shanghai, “Do not leave Shanghai unless it is necessary.” According to the Shanghai New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemic Prevention and Control Leading Group Office, those who really need to leave Shanghai must hold a negative nucleic acid test report within 48 hours.
The epidemic in Shanghai is also the heaviest since the normalization of epidemic prevention and control due to its long duration, large number of new additions, and wide coverage.
At 18:00 today, Shanghai held the 121st press conference on the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, reporting 6 new local confirmed cases and 55 local asymptomatic infections on March 13.
The “medical community” noticed that Fudan University, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongji University and other universities in Shanghai have recently issued notices that they will start the quasi-closed campus management, and teachers and students will not be separated from the school. school. Many communities have also begun to close management.
“Closing classes, implementing lockdown/quasi-closure management in key areas, and requiring a 48-hour nucleic acid certificate upon arrival and departure from Shanghai are all measures to improve the efficiency of social clearance, and The fastest speed to block the spread of the virus.” Wu Fan, deputy dean of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, said at a press conference on epidemic prevention and control.
Wu Fan said:
Judging from the daily reports, some infected people were found in the screening of risk groups, indicating that there is community transmission of the current epidemic. In such a situation, one of the strategies is to reduce People flow, nucleic acid testing is carried out.
At the same time, the source of infection in this round of epidemic is the Omicron strain. The infected person has mild symptoms, a high proportion of asymptomatic, and the transmission is hidden, so the difficulty of “early detection” has increased. In this case, it is not enough to simply carry out screening in key areas. It is necessary to reduce the gathering of people and reduce the flow of people in the society, so as to control the epidemic better and faster.
Source: Medicine
Editor in charge: Jun Ling
Proofreading: Zang Hengjia
Plate making: Xue Jiao