City runs normally under controllable COVID situation

Shenzhen is expected to see a relatively large number of new daily COVID-19 cases in the short term due to a cluster of infections. But as the number of positive cases found in communities decreased significantly Thursday, the city’s COVID situation is generally stable and controllable, according to a press conference held Thursday.

Lin Hancheng, a senior health official from the city’s health commission, said at the conference that the number of new daily positive cases in the city had been rising recently. Particularly, a COVID cluster has been reported at the Huaxing dance art center in Futian District, which resulted in an explosive COVID spread.

Nevertheless, Lin emphasized that Shenzhen’s COVID situation is “generally stable and controllable.”

As of 12 p.m. Thursday, a total of 44 infections were related to the Huaxing center, while positive COVID cases have also been identified among some close contacts who haven’t visited the center, Lin said.

Futian has put the Huaxing dance art center under investigation, and it has vowed to justly deal with any violations.

A Metro Line 1 train in service yesterday. Sun Yuchen

According to Lin, the city will improve the efficiency of nucleic acid testing and take measures to ensure that the average waiting time in a queue for nucleic acid testing is about 15 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes.

“At present, Shenzhen is operating normally with life and production in order,” Lin said, adding that supplies of daily necessities are ample and food prices are stable.

In another development, Nanshan and Longhua districts, as well as Dapeng New Area issued notices Thursday announcing the implementation of tightened COVID measures within the districts and new area from 6 p.m. Thursday to Sunday.

During the period, restaurants and canteens in the districts and new area are ordered to limit their operating capacities and service hours, and temporarily halt dine-in services.

Meanwhile, all deliverymen are prohibited from entering residential communities and urban villages, and takeaways and packages should be placed at designated locations. Deliverymen must take nucleic acid tests daily and report their health condition.

Residents in the districts and new area are required to present negative 24-hour nucleic acid test results or a 24-hour COVID test record to enter residential compounds and urban villages. Visitors are not allowed to enter unless for essential purposes.

Large conferences, activities, forums, performances, sales promotions, fairs and square dancing are halted, and parks in the districts and new area are closed. Indoor venues that do not offer essential services are ordered to suspend businesses. Education and training institutions must halt offline operations.

The city reported nine locally transmitted confirmed COVID cases and seven asymptomatic infections from 12:01 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday.