“The most widespread contagion from Wuhan”. This is how state media in China describe a new coronavirus outbreak that was first detected in the Chinese city of Najing and has spread to five provinces and Beijing.
Nearly 200 people have been infected since the virus was detected at the city’s congested airport on July 20.
All flights from Nanjing Airport have been suspended until August 11, as reported by the Global Times newspaper.
Authorities also launched an extensive covid testing program across the city after being criticized for their “failure.”
The city’s 9.3 million residents, including visitors, will be tested, the Xinhua news service reported.
Officials believe the current outbreak is linked to the highly infectious delta variant of the virus and that its rapid spread is because it was detected at a congested airport.
Airport administrators were scolded. A senior Communist Party disciplinary entity stated that they had had “problems like a lack of supervision and lack of professionalism in management.”
All flights at Nanjing Airport have been suspended until August 11. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES
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Evidence has shown that the virus has spread to at least 13 cities, including Chengdu and the capital Beijing.
However, experts cited by the Global Times believe that the outbreak is still at an early stage and could be controlled.
Local officials in Nanjing say seven of those infected are in critical condition. The new surge in cases has generated speculation on the country’s social media about whether Chinese vaccines are effective against the delta variant.
It is not yet clear whether those infected were vaccinated.
A number of Southeast Asian countries that relied on Chinese vaccines recently announced that they will use other vaccines.
So far, China has largely managed to contain the virus by closing its borders and acting quickly to suppress local outbreaks.
