Fujian widens efforts to control outbreak

Amid the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in Fujian province, two of its cities, Xiamen and Putian, are rolling out measures including travel restrictions to halt the spread of the virus, as well as measures to maintain supplies of daily necessities and keep prices stable.

As of 4 pm on Wednesday, Xiamen had reported 48 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one local asymptomatic case, Liao Huasheng, the city's vice-mayor, said at a news conference.

All of the patients have been isolated and are being treated in local designated hospitals. They are all in stable condition.

More measures will be taken to monitor commodity prices and keep supplies stable. In addition, the city will crack down on any price gouging and hoarding.

Putian is also stepping up measures on several fronts to contain the virus.

The city had reported 99 confirmed novel coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, according to a local news conference.

To better trace potential cases, the city started citywide nucleic acid testing on Tuesday afternoon and conducted a second round of nucleic acid testing in Putian's Xianyou county. So far, about 3,000 contacts have been traced to the infected people.

Yao Bingshan, director of Putian's health commission, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the city has set up 1,445 nucleic acid testing stations. Medical workers are also conducting on-site testing in workplaces.

Some public places in Putian have been told to suspend operations. Primary and high schools and tutoring institutes have stopped on-site education and on Monday moved classes online.

Putian residents are being encouraged by authorities to stay in the city. They can only travel for necessary trips, such as medical treatment or official business, and need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours of departure.

The government has also tightened management of hotels and other venues being used for quarantine and stepped up monitoring of those in quarantine.

"The city has enough places for quarantine so far," Wu Lanfang, deputy head of Xianyou county, said at the news conference. "We have 71 hotels and nine qualified places so far, totaling 10,256 rooms. We will further regulate the management of these places and prepare more rooms for quarantine."

Some of those in quarantine are under age 14, and the government has arranged for their parents or other relatives to stay with them to ease any stress they may feel.

"We have also improved support of the children's well-being by, for example, offering them milk and nutritious food," she said.

He Bijun contributed to this story.