China’s Covid-19 outbreak in Fujian shows signs of slowing
- Smallest growth in new cases ties in with researchers’ prediction of imminent plateau
- Alleged first case voices distress over online and real life attacks on family, even as government scientist suggests quarantine infection may be to blame
Thirty-one Covid-19 cases were reported on Friday, including 21 from Putian, eight from Xiamen and two from Zhangzhou, bringing total infections to 295 in eight days.
The number included those who tested positive but had yet to show symptoms. Six cases were recorded as positive for Covid-19 after they turned symptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Saturday.
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Researchers at The Global Covid-19 Prediction System, under the College of Atmospheric Sciences at Lanzhou University, had previously said the epidemic in Putian would peak around September 16 and, with asymptomatic cases being picked out in citywide tests, the outbreak would plateau.
Their latest prediction on Friday said the epidemic in Xiamen would be contained within 10 days with final confirmed Covid-19 cases to be kept under 200 if strict control measures were still in place.
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Huang Senzhong, a professor at Nankai University, told People’s Daily that the overall trend was positive, but while there were grounds for cautious optimism, it was necessary to guard against a relapse.
Huang’s team estimate infections will be brought under control some time between September 30 and October 3 and “ideally by National Day” on October 1.