Chinese officials ordered to step up Covid-19 efforts as vice-premier warns of ‘uncertain’ situation caused by Delta variant
- Sun Chunlan warns situation remains fluid and hints that situation may not be as ‘controllable’ as she had previously said
- Latest outbreak, which began in Nanjing last month, has spread to 17 provinces with more than 400 confirmed cases
Officials across China have been told to make it their top priority to stop the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
Vice-premier Sun Chunlan told a pandemic prevention and control meeting in Beijing on Wednesday that the situation remained fluid, and hinted that the spread has not been put under control.
She said there have been “multiple outbreaks in different parts of the country, and the development trend remains uncertain”, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
“All localities must give top priority to the prevention and control of the pandemic, and ensure that the command systems can maintain round-the-clock operation,” said Sun on Wednesday.
“[Officials] must keep a tight grip on prevention work when there is no infection, and act decisively once confirmed cases are found.
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“[We] cannot let down our guard for even one second. [We] need to guard our airports, ports and land crossings closely … and hold leading officials accountable for failure.”