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Coronavirus pandemic
ChinaScience

China blames imported Covid-19 cases as Shenzhen logs 3rd infection

  • Third locally transmitted case is a close contact of one of two Delta infections reported earlier
  • National Health Commission links original pair to imported cases as spokesman highlights challenges posed by globally resurgent pandemic

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An area under temporary lockdown in Longgang district of Shenzhen, where all three cases live. Photo: Xinhua
Orange Wang
China blamed imported Covid-19 cases for the latest outbreak in its southern tech hub of Shenzhen, as city authorities tightened control measures after reporting a third case in two days.
Neighbouring cities in the Pearl River Delta also imposed stricter pandemic restrictions, as China pushes ahead with its zero-tolerance approach. This came as the country reported its first locally transmitted Omicron cases amid wider outbreaks in several provinces.

The Shenzhen Health Commission on Saturday reported a third locally transmitted case, a resident of Longgang district who is a close contact of one of the two epidemiologically linked Delta infections detected the previous day. Her symptoms are mild and she is being treated at a designated hospital, authorities said.

The two earlier cases, a married couple who also live in Longgang district, were detected during routine screening of employees in key industries.

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“Genome sequencing results show that [this is] a local outbreak caused by recent imported [coronavirus cases],” He Qinghua, an inspector from the National Health Commission, told a press conference in Beijing on Saturday.

Commission spokesman Mi Feng highlighted the challenges posed by a resurgent pandemic worldwide.

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“Nearly 1.9 million cases per day have been added globally in the past week, more than twice the previous peak of the pandemic. Hence the pressure on preventing cases from being imported into China has further increased,” Mi said at the same press briefing.

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