According to a notice released by the Dongguan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Dongguan CDC) today (January 6th), an imported asymptomatic case who was retested positive for COVID-19 once, travelled in Dongguan between December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021. Here is the track of the case in Dongguan:

● Took the C7163 Shenzhen bound train (No.6 carriage) from Guangzhou to Dongguan at 12:26 on December 31, 2020. Then transferred in Dongguan Railway Station between 13:10 to 13:40 on the same day.

● Stayed in the IBIS Hotel in Dongcheng district, Dongguan from 14:00 on December 31, 2020 to 14:00 on January 1, 2021.

● Visited the AL CHILE Mexican restaurant in Dongcheng district, Dongguan from 19:30 to 22:30 on December 31, 2020.

● Visited the Holly Bar in Dongcheng district, Dongguan from 22:30 on December 31, 2020 to 2:00 on January 1, 2021.

● Took the T102 train (No.9 carriage) from Dongguan East Railway Station to Shanghai South Railway Station at 16:51 on January 1, 2021. Went to the KFC in Dongguan East Railway Station from 15:10 to 16:10.

Dongguan CDC reminds the people who have been to any the above-mentioned locations during those periods to go to the nearest nucleic acid testing site to take a COVID-19 test as soon as possible with proper personal protection. The above-mentioned people should monitor their health condition carefully, and report to the community immediately if they show any symptoms such as fever, cough and lack in strength, and go to the nearby fever clinic for treatment.

Isolation period in Shenzhen extended

Shenzhen has strengthened its COVID-19 containment measures for cross-border travelers, extending the quarantine period to as long as 21 days, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported yesterday.

All travelers from overseas have now been required to be isolated for a period of 14 days at hotels in Shenzhen before being transferred to the seven-day community-administered isolation as per a notice released by the Guangdong provincial pandemic prevention and control headquarters, the Daily report said.

Updates on COVID-19 cases in Guangdong

On January 5th, Guangdong reported 3 new cases of imported confirmed infection and 8 new asymptomatic cases. Three confirmed cases, reported by Guangzhou and Shenzhen, came from Democratic Republic of the Congo and China’s Hong Kong SAR.

And 8 asymptomatic cases, reported by Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Foshan, came from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Kyrghyzstan respectively. All of above cases were found at the port of entry, and were quarantined for observation immediately.

As of midnight yesterday, Guangdong had reported a total of 2,060 cases, including 664 imported cases.

China advises against travel, big gatherings during Spring Festival

The Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, a task force coordinating China's anti-epidemic response across multiple ministries, issued last week several recommendations and precautions for people to stay safe during the upcoming Spring Festival.

China has largely contained the outbreak on its soil, but recent sporadic cases and local infections are pushing authorities to continue keeping their guards up in the lead-up to the Golden Week, which this year falls on February 11-18. As of 10:00 a.m. BJT on Monday, 45 localities on the Chinese mainland have been designated as medium-risk areas.

1. Small reunions, preferably online

While encouraging virtual meetings as much as possible, the notice recommended that family gatherings should be limited to 10 people at most. Those exhibiting symptoms like cough and fever should sit social events out.

2. Holiday travel not advised

Recent years have seen a sizable number of holidaymakers choosing to go on trips during the Spring Festival, but Chinese tourism authorities are recommending against traveling this year.

Liu Kezhi, director of the Market Management Department at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has advised against unnecessary travel and is discouraging traveling abroad or to medium- and high-risk areas within China.

3. Personal protection still important

Wearing masks, observing social distancing and hand hygiene are still important, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wu advised the public to be ready to wear masks, especially in densely populated areas and places with poor ventilation.

Chinese mainland reports 32 new COVID-19 cases

The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 32 new COVID-19 cases—23 cases of local transmission and nine from overseas, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday. The locally transmitted cases were reported in north and northeast China: 20 in Hebei Province and one each in Liaoning Province, Heilongjiang Province and Beijing.

Moreover, 64 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were recorded, while 360 asymptomatic patients remain under medical observation. No death related to COVID-19 was registered on Tuesday, while 21 patients were discharged from hospitals.

The total number of confirmed infections in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and the Taiwan region are as follows:

·Hong Kong: 9,049 (8,127 recoveries, 153 deaths)

·Macao: 46 (46 recoveries)

·Taiwan: 817 (697 recoveries, 7 deaths)

Sources: Health Commission of Guangdong Province, CGTN, Szdaily.com, and Newsgd.com