Guangzhou successfully limiting spread of virus

Infections in the current COVID-19 outbreak in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, have been limited to areas under strict control and have not resulted in widespread transmission through the city, a local health official said.

The infection rate has been low citywide, said Li Tiegang, an official with the health commission of Guangzhou, in an interview with China Central Television broadcast on Tuesday.

Since May 21, Guangzhou has reported 98 local transmissions of COVID-19 and 10 local asymptomatic carriers.

Guangzhou has a population of about 18.68 million, according to the latest census.

All the patients in the ongoing outbreak were infected in the same transmission chain, a fact known through gene sequencing, Li said.

All the patients except nine had minor symptoms. Experts, including a team led by prominent respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan, have participated in the treatment of those nine serious cases.

Efforts are ongoing to identify patient zero in the outbreak, Li said.

On Tuesday, the city reported seven local COVID-19 patients and one local patient who had been previously diagnosed as asymptomatic.

Meanwhile on Monday, all indoor entertainment venues in Guangzhou, including movie theaters, karaoke bars and internet bars, were suspended.

Two other districts in Guangzhou — Baiyun and Huangpu — suspended dine-in services at all restaurants and cafeterias on Tuesday.