Photo:Xinhua

Just as China has effectively curbed a rampaging epidemic resurgence in Beijing and Shanghai, a new wave hit North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with a total of 90 infections reported since the first was detected on Thursday.

The region registered 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 33 asymptomatic carriers on Sunday, bringing the total to 41 and 49 respectively. The majority of the cases were found in Xilingol League. 

Erenhot in the Xilingol League has become the worst-hit area in this outbreak. According to local authorities at a press conference on Monday, the city has reported a total of 82 cases, and all were moved to designated hospitals or makeshift hospitals for treatment, with no critically ill patients.

Meanwhile, Erenhot has sent 32 notices to authorities outside the city involving some 48 people who are close contacts or secondary close contacts of the confirmed cases and who traveled to other places. 

The fifth round of mass nucleic acid testing was conducted early on Monday.

Some 35 residential communities in Erenhot have been identified as sealed-off areas. 

Considering people's medical needs at this time, the emergency department of Erenhot People's Hospital is open normally, and patients who cannot be treated locally will be referred for treatment after completing nucleic acid and other related tests.

Since the latest flare-up, the city has received support from various parties. 296 workers have been dispatched to assist in the medical treatment and massive testing operations. Additional 365 medical workers from the region were also sent to the city. 

A total of 70 testing sites and a mobile make-shift laboratory have been set up for large-scale nucleic acid screening tests. 

With the national college entrance examinations, or gaokao, to be held starting from Tuesday, cities hit by the epidemic are making plans to ensure a safe and smooth environment for test-takers. 

On Friday, Sun Shaocheng, Party secretary of Inner Mongolia, said in a video conference that Erenhot must attach great importance to epidemic prevention operations and asked local authorities to shoulder the responsibility and curb the spread of the virus at all costs. 

Sun also urged cities to guarantee the organization of gaokao and not let any candidate miss the exams due to the epidemic.

Inner Mongolia has witnessed repeated outbreaks in the past two years, with its border city Manzhouli as a major hotspot. Most of the outbreaks were triggered by imported cases.  

Epidemic prevention teams at land ports should not let themselves be caught off guard, and it is very important to prevent overlaps of the epidemic, Sun stressed. 

Global Times