China will offer a second COVID-19 booster dose to certain groups who had received their first booster shot more than six months, authorities said yesterday.
The targeted groups are people with a high risk of infection, elderly aged over 60 years old, people with serious underlying health conditions and those with low immunity, according to a circular released by the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19.
China stopped publishing data reflecting the number of asymptomatic carriers of the novel coronavirus starting from yesterday, according to Li Qun, head of the Public Health Emergency Center of the China CDC.
Many asymptomatic carriers no longer participate in testing and don’t need to seek treatment from health institutions, and so it is difficult to accurately grasp the actual number of asymptomatic cases, said Li.
Meanwhile, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Tuesday stressed the importance of meticulously implementing various measures to optimize COVID-19 prevention and control.
Sun made the remarks during an inspection of epidemic control work in Beijing as new infections in the city grew rapidly. But the vast majority of cases are asymptomatic and mild cases. There are 50 severe and critical cases in hospitals, most of whom have underlying health conditions.
She said in addition to Beijing’s current 303 fever clinics, more such clinics should be set up in temporary hospitals, and the number of medical personnel should be increased at all fever clinics.
Sun said the manufacturing and supply of medicines and test kits are being ramped up. In general, they can meet the demand, she added.
“With the advantage of the system to mobilize resources nationwide, we can definitely tide over this COVID-19 peak,” she said.