Outbreak triggers emergency steps in Urumqi

Health authorities in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, triggered an emergency response mechanism on Wednesday, including epidemiological investigations, nucleic acid testing and quarantine measures after COVID-19 cases were reported in the city.

According to the Xinjiang Health Commission on Thursday, the region reported a new confirmed case and 23 asymptomatic carriers, on Wednesday.

The confirmed case was found in Urumqi's Midong district, while 20 asymptomatic carriers were reported in Bayingol Mongolian autonomous prefecture's Heshuo county and three in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture's Changji city.

All cases involved people who had been under quarantine during the latest outbreak in the region.

The region recorded its first two cases of COVID-19, both asymptomatic, on Tuesday during a routine nucleic acid testing. Tracing data showed the two were migrant workers who had either been to Shanghai or had contacted others from there.

Relevant departments in the city have organized professional personnel to help disinfect public areas and vehicles and to collect samples for further testing to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

All the nucleic acid tests conducted after 3 pm on Tuesday came out negative as of the end of Wednesday. All close contacts have now been quarantined, health authorities said.

As of Wednesday, Xinjiang reported one confirmed case and 25 asymptomatic carriers.

Production, traffic and social order are normal and the daily lives of local residents have not been disrupted.