Chongqing- The COVID-19 situation in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality remains complex as infections continue to rise. Chongqing government decided to conduct closed-loop management in central urban districts from November 20, according to a press conference held on November 21. 

Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan stressed the importance of taking immediate action to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Chongqing during an inspection in the city on November 21, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Sun urged immediate, resolute, and decisive measures to cut off the transmission chain and contain the virus more quickly to shield economic and social development and people's well-being to the greatest possible extent.

A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid testing in Chongqing. (Photo/ Xinhua)

Don't leave the community unless it's necessary

"Residents in Chongqing's central urban districts are urged to continue their cooperation with the city's COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control by staying put for a period of time," said Li Pan, deputy director of the Chongqing Health Commission.

Li continued that to curb the spread of the coronavirus via community transmission, all residents in the central urban districts should stay home without leaving their communities unless necessary, except for medical staff, epidemic prevention workers, police, postal delivery, material security, and other anti-epidemic personnel. 

All the residents only leave Chongqing if it is urgent. Residents of the central city shall only leave the central urban area if necessary, and people from surrounding districts and counties shall not enter the central area temporarily. Residents who need to travel should meet relevant procedures.

Communities will provide individualized services

Residents in high-risk areas can purchase daily necessities through online platforms, community group purchasing, e-commerce platforms, and online catering to avoid contact distribution.  

For the building that found confirmed COVID-19 cases, the community will arrange special personnel to send daily supplies to the door.

Communities will provide individualized services to ensure basic needs for the elderly who live alone, are disabled, and cannot buy daily necessities online.

Chongqing has done its best to ensure the service guarantee by organizing property management companies, residents, and volunteers to ensure the routine life needs of residents.

With the construction and opening of some makeshift hospitals and the improvement of related supporting facilities, patient transfer services were greatly improved. Meanwhile, departments and enterprises related to transportation, daily supplies, and express are doing everything possible to speed up their supply.

According to Li, A high-risk zone can be downgraded to low-risk if there are no new infections for five consecutive days. According to statistics, as of 24 am November 20, Chongqing has 3,570 high-risk zone, including 2,950 in the central urban area, and 245 high-risk zones in the downtown area were downgraded to low-risk.

According to the commission, the municipality reported 178 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6,157 new asymptomatic carriers on November 22.