130 confirmed asymptomatic infection cases in mainland China on 1 April 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : pixabay

The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China reported daily addition of asymptomatic infections for the first time on 1 April 2020. There are 130 new cases of asymptomatic infection as of 12 am on 1 April 2020, two of which are confirmed during daytime. 

There were 36 new confirmed cases in mainland China yesterday, one of which is a local case in Guangdong. There are six deaths in Wuhan, one death in Shanghai, 26 suspected covid cases from abroad and 130 new cases of asymptomatic infection, two of which were confirmed in the morning.

According to the official website of the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, as of 12 am on 1 April, according to reports from 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, there are currently 2004 confirmed cases, 172 suspected cases, a total of 81554 confirmed cases. There are a total of 76,238 discharged patients and a total of 3,312 deaths. 707,913 people are under contact tracing and 20,314 people are under medical observation. 

Among 130 new cases of asymptomatic infection, two cases were confirmed on the same day, and 302 cases were released on the same day. So far, the total 1367 cases of asymptomatic infection are still under medical observation, which is 174 less than the previous day.

Ref :  http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/yqfkdt/202004/28668f987f3a4e58b1a2a75db60d8cf2.shtml

Over 1500 asymptomatic infections of COVID-19 in China. Daily notification from 1 April 2020

Source : Lianhe Zaobao
Ref : https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20200331-1041747
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : An epidemic prevention and control meeting in Wuhan (Disease Prevention & Control Authority, National Health Commission of China)

The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China has announced on 31 March 2020 that as of 30 March 2020, 1541 asymptomatic infections have been under medical observation. The health committee also announced that it will announce the report, transition and management of asymptomatic infected persons in the daily outbreak notification from 1 April 2020.

According to a CCTV news report, the State Council Information Office held a press conference in Wuhan on 31 March 2020. Chang Jile, Director of the National Health and Medical Commission's CDC, pointed out that asymptomatic infections have caused widespread public concern, and the authorities have always attached great importance to such infections and related situation. In response to social concerns, starting from 1 April 2020, the National Health Commission will announce the situation of asymptomatic infections in daily epidemic notifications.

Covid asymptomatic infection in 2019 refers to those who have no self-perceived or recognizable clinical symptoms such as fever and cough, but who have positive pathogenic tests for viruses in respiratory specimens.

According to the official website of Disease Prevention & Control Authority, the CDC of the National Health Commission of China, as of 8 pm on 30 March 2020, 1,541 cases of asymptomatic infections were received under medical observation, of which 205 were imported from abroad.

According to Chang Jile, currently asymptomatic infections are mainly found through four channels: medical observations of close contacts, investigation of clustered epidemics, tracking of infection sources, and travel history of some areas with continuous transmission of covid cases at home and abroad or a test by a resident history person.

As for report management, the National Health and Medical Commission requires localities to strengthen the management of asymptomatic infection prevention and control. These include strengthening information reporting and requiring medical and health institutions to report directly to the Internet within two hours of the discovery of asymptomatic infection. In addition, the rapid flow of investigations should be carried out. After receiving reports from asymptomatic patients, the county-level disease control centres should complete case investigations within 24 hours, and register close contacts in a timely manner, and pass the case investigation reports through infection in a timely manner to be reported by the disease report management system.

In addition, the National Health Commission requires strict isolation management. Asymptomatic infections should be concentrated for 14 days. In principle, centralized isolation should be completed for 14 days. After two consecutive, negative nucleic acid tests should be conducted at an interval of 24 hours, the isolation can be ruled out. If the nucleic acid test is still positive, it is necessary to continue the centralized medical observation, and the close contacts of the asymptomatic infected person shall also be subjected to the medical observation for 14 days.

Chang Jile revealed that the next step will be to implement the meeting spirit of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the work of the epidemic, highlight the monitoring, tracking, quarantine and treatment of asymptomatic infected persons, and focus on the epidemic areas and select a certain percentage to conduct a survey and epidemiological analysis of asymptomatic patients. Further research ought to be done to improve prevention and control measures.

According to an earlier report, the meeting of the Leading Group of Epidemic Work chaired by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday called for strengthening prevention and control of asymptomatic infections, including targeted efforts to increase screening for asymptomatic infections. Immediately according to the "four early" requirements, strict centralized isolation and medical management were required. The meeting also emphasized that localities must adhere to the open and transparent release of information, and do not allow concealment and omission of reports in pursuit of a zero case report.

Prior to the epidemic work meeting on 26 March 2020, Li Keqiang also asked the National Health Commission and other relevant experts to seriously study the situation of asymptomatic infection, come up with prevention and treatment programs, and avoid loopholes in covid prevention and control.


StayGate's Notes
For the full official details in Chinese on asymptomatic infection in mainland China, readers may refer to the answers of the Disease Prevention & Control Authority, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China at this link: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/jkj/s3578/202003/718c79c96f3e46409dd49303d41a00ef.shtml

Disease Prevention & Control Authority, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China
http://www.nhc.gov.cn/jkj/new_index.shtml

National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China
http://www.nhc.gov.cn/

Scandals around Communist China's anti-pandemic materials

Reporter  :  Li Yun
Editor : Zhu Xinrui
Publisher : New Tang Dynasty Television
Ref : https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2020/03/31/a102812212.html
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Anti-epidemic materials. Getty Images.

With the spread of the COVID-19 (covid, in short) pandemic, the China Communist Party (CCP) exported medical supplies to many countries in Europe and Asia, but scandals around waves of returns have emerged as a result of substandard materials. 

For example, the Netherlands announced the recall of hundreds of thousands of substandard Chinese-made masks. The Philippines, Spain, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Malaysia also criticized China's virus-based rapid test reagents for too high an error rate and could not be used.

On 21 February 2020, China Daily reported that "China donated 10 million masks to Malaysia." However, Malaysia’s Minister of Transport Wei Jiaxiang clarified publicly that the masks were actually purchased by the Malaysian government from the Communist Party of China and not donated by the Communist government.

The Italian media "IL Foglio" published an article on the official website of the Italian female journalist Guilia Pompili on February 26, stating that the Italian Foreign Minister announced that China had given Italy 20,000 sets of protective clothing, 50,000 doses of inspection reagents, 100,000 masks, 1,000 respirators, in fact, this is just a trade between China and Italy.

The article said that what China sent was not a donation, and there was nothing free. The Italian foreign minister called the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to put forward procurement requirements, and Wang Yi was responsible for drawing up Chinese manufacturers who could supply.

At present, the medical supplies that cause quality problems are not only donated by the CCP, but also purchased from other countries through commercial transactions.

The Netherlands imported 1.3 million masks from China, and 600,000 were defective. Dutch officials have urgently recalled the masks issued.

A statement from the Dutch Ministry of Health stated that the batch of masks not only failed to meet the EU FFP2 standard for filtering 95% of particulate matter, but even the lower standard FFP1 failed. However, some have been distributed to front-line hospitals. After inspection, it was found that these masks had more than one defect, including that the FFP2 filter membrane was out of specification and could not cover the face normally.

A spokesman for Catharina Hospital in the Netherlands said that these batches of inferior masks are not a single case. "There are still many" junks "on the market, and some people use the current crisis to profit."

Not only are the masks inferior, but the quality of the rapid test reagents donated by the CCP is also questionable.

The CCP donated 100,000 test kits to the Philippines, but Maria Rosario Vergeire, Deputy Minister of Health of the Philippines, said at a press conference on 28 February 2020 that after comparing with the test agent provided by the WHO, it was found that accuracy of some reagent is only 40 per cent, and the authorities have stated that it will not be used.

However, after the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued the statement "Resolutely Oppose ... Interfering with China-Philippines Cooperation in Fighting the Epidemic", the Philippine Ministry of Health changed the same day and stated that only 40 per cent of the reagents were donated by a private foundation.

The 340,000 fast-screening kits bought by Spain from China, with an inaccuracy rate of more than 70 per cent, were approved as "inferior" and "untrustworthy." In the past week, countries including the Czech Republic and Turkey have also reported that the inaccuracy rate of the fast-screening reagent kits purchased from China has been above 70 per cent, which is unusable at all, so they have decided to give up.

On 30 March 2020, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hua Chunying lied in response to related incidents that when foreign countries made purchase requests to China through diplomatic channels, the ministry would recommend relevant enterprises to negotiate, but did not reflect a problem with the materials.

She also claimed that at the beginning of the outbreak in China, China had received substandard materials, but she gave no examples.

US Congressman Michael McCaul recently said, "When China’s anti-epidemic materials are scarce, the world has donated a large amount of medical equipment to China. However, after the Chinese Communist Party allowed the virus to spread domestically and globally, it now sells defective medical supplies and collects fees to those countries in need, exacerbating the epidemic crisis, which is too shameful."

Had covid virus spread widely in Singapore? We ushered in a "critical tipping point"

Reporter : Lu Lingzhi 
Publisher : Zaobao Digital
Ref : https://www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20200330-1041477
Picture, Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                              / KUCINTA SETIA

The COVID-19 (covid, in short) epidemic in Singapore has ushered in a short period of plateau after withstanding the first wave of imported cases from China. But in the past few weeks, a new wave of imported cases has come mainly from Europe and the United States. 54 cases, 49 cases, 73 cases ... The number of cases of covid has repeatedly reached a single-day high in the past few weeks, which is alarming.

After zaobao.sg flipped through a lot of information (a lot is right), we sort out intuitive charts:

It can be seen that the change curves of daily input cases and newly added cases are roughly consistent. Since 17 March 2020, the number of imported cases has increased significantly. It surged to 17 on the same day, and reached a peak of 48 on a single day on 23 March.

On the other hand, the number of local cases also soared from March 24, and the largest number of 35 local cases so far on 25 March 25, even on 27 March, exceeded the number of imported cases.

What is worrying is that new cases of local unlinked cases (local unlinked cases) have also rapidly increased with the outbreak. If you do not believe you see the following picture:

The so-called "unlinked cases" are not clearly defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on the data provided by the Singapore Ministry of Health, we speculate that “unrelated cases” means that the patient has not recently gone abroad to the affected country, and has not had known close contact with other local confirmed cases.

It should be noted that, for example, the nth patient was diagnosed without going abroad recently, and was classified as an unrelated case on the a day but after that, he was found on the a + b day to have contact with the mth patient and the mth patient was diagnosed positive on that day.  In this case, the mth and nth patients are not unrelated cases (although it is still unknown how the nth patient became infected and where the source of the infection was).

Therefore, judging from the daily new unrelated cases to judge the situation is not accurate, and it can better reflect the current outbreak of accumulated unrelated cases.

As of 12 pm on 29 March 2020, there were 71 unrelated cases in Singapore. In other words, in just 10 days, the number of unrelated cases tripled from 24 on 20 March 2020!

Does this mean that the covid virus had spread widely in communities across the island? We interviewed three infectious disease experts to hear their opinions.

Questions:

In view of the recent increase in domestic unrelated cases, is there a signal that the covid virus is more serious in local communities?
What is the reason for the climb?
Has the covid virus spread widely in communities across the island?
Does this make it more important to maintain social distancing?

---------
If you don’t have time to read  the following paragraphs, you can directly read the summary first: Although the epidemic has not reached the point of "widespread", it is approaching the critical point. The next two weeks are the key to contain the spread. How to achieve it? Keep a safe social distance of two metres. It is best to stay home and not go out.
----------

Dr. Liang Haonan, Infectious Disease Consultant, Elizabeth Novena Hospital:
New cases of covid of unknown local origin have recently been spreading in local communities. On the one hand, Chinese and foreigners who have lived in Europe and the United States for a long time recently entered Singapore. Some of them may not pay much attention to local news, and it is not clear to be vigilant and keep a safe distance. Some of them may not have local medical insurance and are reluctant to seek medical treatment in time when they are sick. As a result, they are still active in the community before isolation. On the other hand, there may be more asymptomatic patients with covid in the community, who do not know they are infected.

But the covid virus has not reached the point of "widespread" in communities across the island. Singapore government has banned short-term visitors of all nationalities from entering Singapore or transiting in our country from 11.59 pm on 23 March. The Ministry of Manpower also only allows work permit holders and their immediate family members who provide necessary services to enter our country. One measure is that if after the 14-day incubation period from 24 March 2020, that is, 7 April, there were more unlinked cases in Singapore, then it could be concluded that the virus had spread widely in our communities.

"This underscores the importance of maintaining a two-metre safe social distance during this period. The number of unrelated cases in the country is a direct reflection of whether Singaporeans have taken good social safety distance measures."


Alex Cook, Associate Dean (Research), Surrey School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, who studies infectious disease transmission models:
Although the increase in the number of unrelated cases in the country is worrying, so far only less than 0.1% of the total population has been diagnosed locally, so it has not yet reached the "wide spread" situation. It is possible that our country will enter the Red Outbreak Response System (DORSCON) red level in the next few months, but for now, the orange level is in line with the status quo.

The increase in unassociated cases underscores the importance of maintaining social distance. We should also consider installing the "TraceTogether" application on mobile phones.

Professor Paul Tambyah, President of the Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases:
It is still difficult to judge whether we have entered the stage of "wide community communication", but the next two weeks will be a key turning point. If the situation deteriorates further, we can only consider a complete lockup of the country, but this will cause a more severe economic blow; and spend more manpower and resources to step up the close contact tracking of diagnosed patients.

WHO : Member States should decide Taiwan's participation

Source : NTDTV Asia Pacific
Ref : https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2020/03/30/a102811970.html
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Web Screenshot

Taiwan's efficient response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been praised by the media in more than 40 countries around the world. However, in a recent interview, the Senior Adviser to the WHO Director General, Iward, pretended that Taiwan's accession to the WHO had not heard or even disconnected the online interview. This move has aroused criticism from all walks of life. On 29 March 2020, the WHO issued a statement saying that Taiwan's membership should be determined by other member states.

RTHK reporter asked Iward, "Will the World Health Organization reconsider membership to Taiwan?"

When asked if he had reconsidered Taiwan's accession to the World Health Organization, Senior Adviser to WHO Director General, Iward, avoided talking about Taiwan's issues and even disconnected the interview, causing all walks of life talk. However, the WHO later stated via email to the foreign media that Taiwan's membership in the WHO should be determined by member states.

In response, President Tsai Ing-wen also responded that with the participation of Taiwan in world health affairs through WHO, the world medical system would be better.

Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China, said, "We are capable and have a strong willingness to maintain our health with other countries. We have some useful experiences and are willing to share. For the whole world, with the participation of Taiwan, the entire world The health care and health system will do better. "

After the disconnection, the WHO rarely participated in a positive discussion on the platform. This outbreak also attracted international attention to Taiwan and the German Liberal Democratic Party group. A proposal was recently proposed in parliament. A total of 57 parliamentarians have signed to support Taiwan as a WHO observer.

Guangdong businessman threatens "counterfeit thermometers sold in the United States"

Reporter ; Zheng Gusheng
Editor : Ming Xuan
Publisher : New Tang Dynasty Television
Ref : https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2020/03/30/a102811924.html
Extract translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                            / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Web Screenshot.

After the COVID-19 outbreak in China, the business community and the people in the United States and Japan have actively provided assistance. However, a small number of Chinese people were harmed by the China Communist Party (CCP)’s "anti-American and anti-Japanese" brainwashing propaganda, and they still treat the United States and Japan with hatred below the bottom line of civilization. A few days ago, a Chinese businessman claimed that "making fake thermometers harmed the United States" was bombarded by Chinese netizens.

China Network uploaded a screenshot of a WeChat group conversation. The content is Zhang Xuandong, owner of Haofeng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. in Dongguan, Guangdong. He suggested that other manufacturers produce fake thermometers for sale to the United States. Let them (infected people) get more and more. "

However, most Chinese netizens disagree and bombard Zhang Xuandong on the Internet: "rude entrepreneurs who harm the image of China", "the Chinese nation known as the ancient civilization of 5,000 years and the state of etiquette. How can people be corrupted like this? It is worth our reflection. "

In response, Zhang Xuandong defended himself in an interview with mainland China media on Sunday (29 March), saying that he was out of "patriotic feelings" and "impulsive jokes."

Zhejiang requires asymptomatic infections of COVID-19 to be counted and reported

Reporter : Tang Di
Editor : Ming Xuan
Publisher : New Tang Dynasty Television
Ref : https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2020/03/30/a102811959.html
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : STR/AFP via Getty Images

After the Chinese scholars pointed out that the epicenter of the epidemic in Wuhan may have nearly 60 per cent of the infection cases were not detected because of mild or asymptomatic symptoms, the Zhejiang government ordered on 30 March 2020 that all asymptomatic infections will be counted and reported within the control requirements of confirmed cases. Some netizens said that the official statistics show that the epidemic statistics are "good-looking" without counting asymptomatic infections into the confirmed cases. This game can no longer be played.

Recently, the hidden danger of asymptomatic infections of COVID-19 in mainland China have not been counted as confirmed cases  has aroused great concern in the public. Medical experts have frequently spoken, asking the CCP authorities to face the problem in pandemic prevention posed by countless of asymptomatic patients in China.

According to Chinese mainland media reports, at a press conference held by the Zhejiang government on March 30, the head of the Zhejiang epidemic prevention agency announced that in view of the hidden dangers in asymptomatic infection, Zhejiang Province will strictly follow the control requirements of confirmed cases for all asymptomatic infections.

According to the new regulations announced by the Zhejiang Province ’s Epidemic Prevention Agency, asymptomatic infections in the province must be immediately admitted to designated hospitals for 14 days of centralized isolation medical observations. Once the observation period expires, two consecutive specimens must be tested for negative nucleic acid. The sampling interval is greater than 24 hours. After asymptomatic infection is removed from the designated hospital, refer to the management requirements for the recovery of confirmed cases, and then transfer to the centralized isolation point for 14 days.

At the same time, Zhejiang Province also stipulates that when all travelers who come to Zhejiang enter and depart from centralized quarantine, laboratory testing is carried out to achieve the purpose of screening asymptomatic infection.

It is understood that the "Global SARS-CoV-2 Infections Caused by COVID-19" issued by the WHO clearly states that "when clinical signs and symptoms are present, those diagnosed with covid in the laboratory are confirmed cases."

However, in order to reduce the number of confirmed cases, the Communist Party of China has classified the cases that were positive for the viral nucleic acid test of the Communist Party into "confirmed cases" and "asymptomatic" since the fourth edition of the "Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control Plan" was released on 7 February 2020. As a result, all asymptomatic infections were  no longer counted as confirmed cases.


Hong Kong's English-language newspaper South China Morning Post disclosed on 22 March 2020 that official Chinese Communist Party documents that until the end of February show at least 43,000 asymptomatic infections that had been tested positive were found in China. After 14 days of quarantine surveillance, only those who have symptoms during this period will be amended as confirmed cases announced to the public.

A research team from the School of Public Health of Huazhong University of Science and Technology of China published a paper on the medical paper preprint platform medRxiv on 6 March 2020 pointed out that at least 59 per cent of infection cases in Wuhan have not been detected, which may include asymptomatic and mild symptoms.

In a recent interview with mainland China media, the leader of this research team said that his team based on the most conservative model and the latest statistical data, the calculated data is that there may currently be 59 per cent of undetected infection cases in Wuhan, indicating that local governments may greatly underestimate the number of people with asymptomatic infections, and studies have shown that people with asymptomatic or mild symptoms may be highly contagious.

Wu Tangchun also emphasized repeatedly during the interview that for China and the world, the problem of hidden infections is a very important scientific issue in the prevention and control of the epidemic and should be given high attention.

On the day the Zhejiang government announced on 30 March that asymptomatic infections are required to be diagnosed, a report by mainland China media Caixin.com pointed out that recently there have been many cases of transmission caused by asymptomatic infections in China. The public release of statistics on asymptomatic infections in society is likely to trigger a new public panic.

The article said that the current public opinion has two biggest concerns about "asymptomatic infection": First, the domestic data of asymptomatic infection has not been publicly disclosed, and the public cannot know its scale and transmission trend. Will this make people less alert and necessary? Protection, or triggering excessive panic to fuel rumours? Second, because asymptomatic infections are not counted as confirmed cases, will there be any place where concealed or suspected patients are included in the asymptomatic group in order to maintain "clearing"?

In view of this, some commentators have called for "the number of people with asymptomatic infections needs to be made public as soon as possible, and adequate surveys and research should be conducted to increase public awareness and alertness. At the same time, including asymptomatic infections in confirmed statistics is also in line with current international common practice ... "

The article also quoted experts suggesting that considering the large number of pre-infection infections in Wuhan, in order to find out the scale of asymptomatic infections, a retrospective serological screening in Wuhan should be carried out as soon as possible to prevent the epidemic from rebounding after unsealing.

In the end, this report further quoted the counsel of the health commission's expert group Zheng Xueqian, calling on the authorities to increase the relevant functions of the disease control agencies, and to leave a “slit” for the disease control agencies in the announcement of the epidemic information, allowing the disease control agencies to report directly the epidemic situation to the society in emergencies.

Free entry to Sentosa till 30 June 2020 in view of COVID-19

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA

Entry to Sentosa is free from March 2020 to 30 June 2020. Access to Sentosa via Sentosa Broadwalk or the Sentosa Express LRT from VivoCity, the largest shopping mall in Singapore.

Entertainment and recreation areas of Communist China closed again due to COVID-19

Reporter : Li Ming
Editor : Ming Xuan
Publisher : New Tang Dynasty Television
Ref : https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2020/03/29/a102811308.html
Extract translation, editing by : Gan Yung Chyan
                                                / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Wang Zhao / AFP via Getty Images

According to the Law Enforcement and Supervision Bureau of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, a staff of the bureau confirmed that the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued an "urgent notice" on 28 March 2020 to the country's  KTV pubs, Internet cafes, movie theatres and other entertainment venues to close their premises temporarily until further notice.

Previously, the official epidemic prevention agency of Sichuan Province issued Bulletin No. 14 on 25 March 2020, announcing the termination of the agency's previously issued Bulletin No. 9, regarding the closure of entertainment areas where people, such as bars, dance halls, movie theaters, and electronic game halls, were closed. After that, a number of entertainment venues resumed business one after another. Unexpectedly, only three days later, the policy completely reversed.

Jinjiang District ’s attractive ATT KTV (Dongda Store), Meredith and many other KTVs in Chengdu also accepted in a telephone interview with mainland China media that they had received notices from the cultural and tourism departments on 28 March to suspend business and have subsequently announced suspensions.

Shanghai in the second wave of the covid pandemic. Tourist destinations re-closed

Reporter : Zhu Ying
Editor : Ming Xuan
Publisher : New Tang Dynasty Television
Ref : https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2020/03/29/a102811279.html
Extract translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                            / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : View of Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, China, at early morning on 23 March 2020. (Hector Retamal / AFP via Getty Images)

Shanghai is now in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Shanghai's representative "three high" scenic spots include the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower Tourism Hall, and Shanghai Top Tourism Hall are now closed. They were re-opened 18 days ago in mid-March 2020.  Previously, all theaters, Internet cafes, and entertainment venues in Shanghai have been requested to close. Pictures of Jiangsu Nantong Medical Team's emergency assistance to Shanghai have also been posted on the Internet, indicating that the second wave of Shanghai epidemic is likely to begin.

Image source : The Epoch Times

The Oriental Pearl Tower, the 88th floor of Jinmao Tower, and the three high-rise sightseeing halls in Shanghai Center, the representative “three high” attractions in Shanghai ’s Xiaolujiazui area, announced on 29 March 2020 that they will be “temporarily closed” from 30 March 2020 until further notice. Tourists who have previously purchased tickets in advance can refund the full value of the ticket through the original ticket purchase channel.

Mainland Chinese media "Shangguan News" reported that in addition to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the suspension also includes the Oriental Pearl City Plaza and Zero Metre Hall, Shanghai City History Development Exhibition Hall, and the Oriental Pearl River Tour.

In fact, on 29 March, the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium in the same small Lujiazui area also issued a notice announcing that the park will be temporarily closed from 30 March 2020, and the opening time will be announced separately. Tourists who have previously purchased tickets can fully refund the ticket price through the original ticket purchase channel.

Madame Tussauds announced in the same announcement that it will suspend business from now on, and the public will be notified when it resumes.

On 26 March 2020, Li Lanjuan, a member of the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission of the Communist Party of China, said in an interview with the official media of the China Communist Party that the epidemic situation in China is still very serious, and foreign imports will lead to the second major epidemic situation in China. She specifically pointed out that "Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou are very risky."

Henan reports three confirmed local covid cases on 29 March 2020

Source : Chnfund.com
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : pixabay

According to The Securities Times, three medical workers of the Henan Jiaxian People's Hospital were tested positive with COVID-19 on nucleic acid test sheets. The first medical staff in the surname Liu is an asymptomatic patient. He was isolated for 14 days after returning to hospital and tested positive. His close contacts Zhang and Zhou are tested positive after their nuleic acid samples were tested at the Pingdingshan City Centre for Disease Control on 28 March 2020. 

Ref : http://www.chnfund.com/article/AR15776386

Huizhou reports one asymptomatic case of COVID-19 from Hubei on 26 March 2020

Copywriter : Wu Yu, Chnfund.com
Extract translation, editing  by : Gan Yung Chyan
                                                  / KUCINTA SETIA

The Guangdong city of Huizhou has no new local confirmed cases and overseas imported confirmed cases of COVID-19 for 37 consecutive days. Since 3 March 2020, the confirmed cases of covid have been cleared on 24 March 2020.

However, on 26 March 2020, a community investigation revealed that an asymptomatic infected person from Hubei was found on Longfeng Street, Huicheng District, prompting the need to pay attention to the risk of domestic and overseas epidemic imported cases.

Ref : http://news.stcn.com/2020/0328/15776097.shtml

No difference in infection rate between asymptomatic infections and confirmed cases

Copywriter : Wu Yu, Chnfund.com
Extract translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                            / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : www.news.cn

The latest domestic research results in China : No difference in infection rate between asymptomatic infections and confirmed cases.

According to the First Financial Report, the problems involved with asymptomatic infection of  novel coronavirus pneumonia [ COVID-19 (covid, in short) ] are becoming more and more confusing to the public. How infectious is it?


Transmission capacity of asymptomatic infection

The First Financial Report stated the results of the dissertation published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 41, 2020, entitled "Analysis of Epidemiological Characteristics of Infections in Close Contacts with Patients of Novel Coronavious  Pneumonia in Ningbo" published by Chen Yi et al.  show that the infection rate of close contacts of confirmed cases is 6.3%, and that of close contacts of asymptomatic infections is 4.11%. The researchers believe that there is no statistically significant difference in infection rates.

Covid is highly contagious, and the recurrence rate of family members, relatives, and friends is high. It is a high-risk group of infection. Among different contact methods, co-habitation and co-living infection rates are the highest, suggesting that long-term unprotected close contact is a high risk factor for covid infection.

A total of 157 locally reported confirmed cases and 30 asymptomatic infections were included in this study. A total of 157 locally reported confirmed cases and 30 asymptomatic infections were determined to be in close contact with a total of 2147. The number of close contacts in the cases was at least 0, up to 111, and an average of 11.5. Of the 2147 close contacts, a total of 110 cases developed into confirmed cases and 22 asymptomatic infections. The total infection rate of close contacts was 6.15%.

Therefore, the transmission ability of asymptomatic infection can no longer be underestimated.

The researchers found that among the close contact groups, the infection rate was calculated according to the relationship between close contacts and cases. Among close contacts, the infection rate was highest among friends / pilgrims (22.31%), followed by family members (18.01%). . Medical personnel who were in close contact did not develop an infection. After excluding the incidence data of the "super communicator" event, the infection rate of friends decreased to 15.69%, which was lower than the infection rate of family members (17.54%), and the infection rate ranked second.

The researchers further hierarchically analyzed the different contact methods of various close-connected people, and found that family members were mainly infected by eating together (18.07%) and dinners (11.75%); relatives (4.73%) were mainly infected by eating dinners; among friends (including neighbors) The main infection modes of infection are outdoor conversation (20.00%), dinner / reception / entertainment (12.50%), and infection by using the same transportation (4.55%); the general infection mode of infection is mainly in the same diagnosis and treatment hall as the case (1.94%), same supermarket, market shopping, etc. (0.56%) infection.

The research on this point is similar to that of the Beijing Center for Disease Control. On the afternoon of 22 March 2020, at a press conference on the prevention and control of covid in Beijing, Pang Xinghuo, Deputy Director of the Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced that the rate of follow-up among close relatives reached 17%, which was significantly higher than other people. 3% of close contacts in social relations. The family cluster epidemic accounted for the vast majority, up to 86%, and the family cluster epidemic involving the largest number of cases reached 7 people. At present, there are a large number of overseas visitors to Beijing. Once they return to their homes due to infection, there will be a higher risk of transmission to their families.

Study finds super spreaders

Researchers investigated a covid epidemic case among a Buddhist assembly congregation, and found that a female participant was the source of the cluster infection, and the patient was contagious 1 day after the onset of the disease, mainly through a shared bus and caused transmission to the other participants in the Buddhist assembly. A total of 28 people were diagnosed with covid and 4 were asymptomatic. The infection rate of close contacts was 32.99%, which was much higher than the average infection rate of 6.15%. . Researchers believe that this is a so-called "super communicator" incident. The transmission mainly occurred in an air-conditioned bus. There were 68 close contacts, 23 were diagnosed with confirmed cases of covid, and 2 were asymptomatic infections.  The infection rate reached 36.76%; the infection rate of participating in the rally was 5.61%. The second-generation recurrence rate in this case reached 33.3%. The "super communicator" in this study had 32 consecutive infections, and subsequent cases subsequently caused further spread and spread.

In addition, studies have found that short, unprotected face-to-face conversations in outdoor environments can also cause disease transmission, suggesting that the disease is highly contagious. It is necessary to develop targeted health guidelines to guide the public to do a good job of personal protection. It is recommended that during the epidemic of the disease, people should still wear masks to provide necessary protection in outdoor places with high density of people. People should maintain a safety distance of 1 metre from one another.

Ref : http://news.stcn.com/2020/0328/15776097.shtml

Asymptomatic patients of COVID-19 are as equally infectious as symptomatic patients

Copywriter : Wu Yu, Chnfund.com
Extract translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
                                            / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Zhang Wenhong (public domain). STCN

According to Zhang Wenhong, the Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Huashan Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Fudan University and senior expert group leader of the Shanghai expert treatment group of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia [ Novel coronavirus, COVID-19 (covid, in short) ], the biggest current risk of the pandemic is asymptomatic infection. Such patients have strong immunity and can not get sick within 14 days after being infected with the virus. The virus has been in the body for more than three weeks and has the possibility of infection. If they are not detected and isolated in time, there is a hidden danger of community transmission.

According to a Harvard infectious disease expert study, 40% of COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic, and Zhang Wenhong also said that in more than 100 imported cases in Shanghai, more and more patients are found asymptomatic.

Zhang Wenhong: Asymptomatic infection can be infected for 14 days without the possibility of infection

In the afternoon of  27 March 2020, a seminar on "Basic Research and Prevention Practices on Virus Evolution, Evolution, and Transmission-From SARS to COVID-19" hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Association's Biomedical Professional Committee was held at the Shanghai Science Hall. Talking about the problem of asymptomatic infection, Zhang Wenhong,  said at the meeting that this is an important type of surveillance in the "second half" of epidemic prevention and control aims. Wu Fan, Deputy Dean of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University and President of the Shanghai Preventive Medicine Association, pointed out that the most effective way to prevent infection by such people is to strengthen personal protection.

The full name of "asymptomatic infection" is "asymptomatic infection of novel coronavirus", which refers to those who have no clinical symptoms, but positive for the pathogenic test of novel coronavirus in respiratory specimens.

Zhang Wenhong introduced that the asymptomatic infected person has strong immune ability and cannot get sick within 14 days after infection with the virus. The virus has been in the body for more than three weeks and has the possibility of infection. If they are not detected and isolated in time, there is a hidden danger of community transmission.

In Zhang Wenhong's view, this is exactly the trickiness of the virus. "There are asymptomatic infections of the novel coronavirus virus. Such patients have no clinical symptoms, but the pathogenic test is positive, which brings challenges to epidemic prevention and control." So " It is necessary for Shanghai to implement the "100% Novel Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Test for Inbound Persons in Shanghai" to maximize the screening of asymptomatic infections from abroad.

"So far, I think this virus is one of the most difficult viruses in human history." Zhang Wenhong said.

Why are there asymptomatic people? Zhou Qi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained in a recent interview with Bai Yansong/ "The novel coronavirus virus is cunning, disguising itself in the evolution of the virus and continuously spreading it. Some of the so-called asymptomatic infections may not have found more effective testing methods and testing reagents, and we may not find more important symptoms and signs of clinical testing that deserve attention."

The initial development of the virus is not so invasive, and its harm is reflected in the symptoms of its outbreak after the human body is latent. Therefore, in the future prevention and control process, how to prevent, warn, and detect earlier, and have some clear precautions, is the main research direction.

What if there are asymptomatic infections around us? Wu Fan, Deputy dean of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University and president of the Shanghai Preventive Medicine Association, said that people's most effective means to strengthen personal protection is to wash their hands frequently and wear masks on some occasions.

Data show that there are four main ways to find asymptomatic infections:

The first is the active detection of close contacts of patients with new coronary pneumonia during medical observation;

The second is the active detection carried out in the investigation of cluster epidemics;

The third is the active detection of exposed populations during the tracking of the source of infection of covid cases.

The fourth is the active detection of travel history and residence history in some areas with new cases of continuous transmission of covid.


Asymptomatic infection in imported cases

Zhang Wenhong introduced that more and more asymptomatic patients are found in more than 100 imported cases in Shanghai. He said that “quick diagnosis is extremely important, otherwise it means that a large number of patients will stay in the community and cause community outbreaks. . "

There have been many cases of asymptomatic infections imported overseas. Fellaini, a foreign aid who previously played for Shandong Luneng Taishan Football Club, entered Shanghai and was diagnosed in Jinan. The club stated that his body temperature had been normal during the isolation period and there were no other discomforts. On March 27, Zhejiang Jiaxing informed a Beijing returning man that he had been diagnosed. An epidemiological investigation revealed that he had an asymptomatic infection imported from abroad on the same flight.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Administration of China issued an announcement on 26 March 2020, deciding to temporarily suspend entry of foreigners with currently valid visas and residence permits in China from 28 March 2020. Zhang Wenhong said that the greatest risk of imported epidemic risks is asymptomatic infection. "Now we only allow Chinese people to come back, but when our country's door opens again, there will be a large number of friends in the world. He is asymptomatic. So the risk is great.

On 27 March 2020, Beijing also reported that a case of asymptomatic infection was arrested on the grounds that it was suspected of obstructing the prevention of infectious diseases.

The asymptomatic infected person Chang, who concealed Wuhan's residence history and failed to implement home isolation measures, caused the mother's infection and more than 20 close contacts to be isolated.

According to an official report, Changmou drove out of the city to Changsha in the early hours of the city’s closure on 23 January 2020, and then flew to Beijing to enter the mountainous area of ​​his mother ’s house. He concealed his residence history during the epidemic and repeatedly entered supermarkets, drug stores and other public places. He was diagnosed with asymptomatic infection on 18 March. On 20 March 2020, Chang was criminally detained by public security bodies after being treated in isolation. On 26 March 2020, the Fangshan District People's Procuratorate of Beijing approved his arrest in accordance with law.

When Zhang Wenhong answered the question of epidemic prevention to international students and overseas Chinese on the 26th, he said that asymptomatic infection is not the mainstream of the infected people. So why does China attach great importance to this type of infection? He explained that China is currently in the "second half" of epidemic prevention and control, with few local cases, so more and more attention is paid to asymptomatic infection. Many European and American countries are in the "first half" of epidemic prevention and control, mainly dealing with symptomatic infection. This difference in degree of emphasis is determined by the different prevention and control stages.

Source : http://news.stcn.com/2020/0328/15776097.shtml
See also : Li Ke Qiang stress asymptomatic infections equally important https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2020/03/30/a102811435.html