A medical worker takes a swab sample at a nucleic acid testing site in Ejina Banner of Alxa League, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, October 2021. Photo: Xinhua

The China-Mongolia border town of Ejin Banner, one of the areas hardest hit by the latest coronavirus outbreak, issued an emergency notice on Monday asking all residents and tourists in the town to stay away. indoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19. , as the city reported 12 new confirmed cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 43.

Health experts have noted that the exchange of people and goods at the China-Mongolia port in Ejin Banner are very likely to be the source of this series of infections, as almost all locally transmitted cases were from groups. of tourists.

The notice went into effect immediately after it was issued on Monday, requiring residents and tourists of Ejin Banner to report any abnormalities while inside to relevant staff.

Those who violate the rule and cause serious consequences will face severe penalties according to law, the notice said, China Central Television reported.

According to regional health authorities, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region recorded 13 new local confirmed cases, including 12 from the Ejin Banner, bringing the total to 62 in the region and 43 in the city. All cases are in designated hospitals for centralized treatment, and all close contacts have been quarantined for medical observation.

The sudden lockdown has stranded nearly 10,000 tourists in a city of just 35,000 people, Jimu News reported on Monday. While the city announced Thursday to offer free goods delivery services to tourists, including food, medicine and epidemic prevention supplies, the region still faces a shortage of basic necessities and medical supplies. .

A 28-year-old traveler surnamed Tan came to Ejin Banner from Shanghai on October 17 and was asked to stay inside the hostel where she was staying.

Tan told the Global Times on Monday that the local government provides free lunches, instant noodles, sausages and protective masks to stranded tourists every day. They can tell the management staff what they need in a WeChat group created by the local government and the management staff tries to meet their needs.

Tourists stuck in the hostel are emotionally stable. They chat, play cards and watch movies together. However, not knowing when they will be able to leave, some begin to worry about the high cost of living at the hostel. Many also didn’t bring enough clothes as the weather is getting colder, Tan added.

The Alxa League, the region that administers the Ejin Banner, on Wednesday urgently sent two batches of materials, including face masks, medical protective clothing, disinfectant and winter supplies. The local Red Cross issued a notice on Sunday evening, calling for social donations in the area.

The latest outbreak of COVID-19, which has spread to 11 provinces in just one week, was triggered by a new imported source identified as being of the Delta variant, officials from China’s top health authority said on Sunday.

Ejin Banner has been under the spotlight amid the latest resurgence that has spread to 11 provinces in just one week, as almost all of the nationally transmitted cases were in tourist groups traveling to this division at the from the county in the region that borders Mongolia, the latest chains of transmission have shown.

Although the source was not specified, officials from China’s top health authority confirmed that the latest outbreaks were triggered by a new imported source of the Delta variant.

A Beijing-based immunologist, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Monday that the exchange of people and goods at the Sino-Mongolian port of Ejin Banner is very likely to be behind this series of attacks. infections.

“It is unlikely that the epidemic was caused by cold chain logistics because the port does not engage much in this type of logistics. But with the approach of winter, the exchange of goods carries viruses like a cold chain,” he said. adding that the possibility of virus-carrying animals infecting humans cannot be ruled out. Further studies need to be conducted on animals in the region.

He further noted that Lanzhou, the capital of northwest China’s Gansu province, should follow suit and implement some form of lockdown as cases have recently spiked in the city, which serves a crucial transportation hub in northwest China, an area where the risk of the virus spreading tends to be higher.

On Monday, Lanzhou announced the shutdown of all unnecessary public places, city authorities said. All public gatherings are suspended and the city is asking residents not to leave their homes unless necessary.

Gansu reported four more new confirmed patients on Sunday, including three in Lanzhou. The total number of confirmed local cases in the province has reached 45, of which 33 are from Lanzhou.

A medical worker takes a swab sample at a nucleic acid testing site in Ejina Banner of Alxa League, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, October 2021. Photo: Xinhua

The China-Mongolia border town of Ejin Banner, one of the areas hardest hit by the latest coronavirus outbreak, issued an emergency notice on Monday asking all residents and tourists in the town to stay away. indoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19. , as the city reported 12 new confirmed cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 43.

Health experts have noted that the exchange of people and goods at the China-Mongolia port in Ejin Banner are very likely to be the source of this series of infections, as almost all locally transmitted cases were from groups. of tourists.

The notice went into effect immediately after it was issued on Monday, requiring residents and tourists of Ejin Banner to report any abnormalities while inside to relevant staff.

Those who violate the rule and cause serious consequences will face severe penalties according to law, the notice said, China Central Television reported.

According to regional health authorities, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region recorded 13 new local confirmed cases, including 12 from the Ejin Banner, bringing the total to 62 in the region and 43 in the city. All cases are in designated hospitals for centralized treatment, and all close contacts have been quarantined for medical observation.

The sudden lockdown has stranded nearly 10,000 tourists in a city of just 35,000 people, Jimu News reported on Monday. While the city announced Thursday to offer free goods delivery services to tourists, including food, medicine and epidemic prevention supplies, the region still faces a shortage of basic necessities and medical supplies. .

A 28-year-old traveler surnamed Tan came to Ejin Banner from Shanghai on October 17 and was asked to stay inside the hostel where she was staying.

Tan told the Global Times on Monday that the local government provides free lunches, instant noodles, sausages and protective masks to stranded tourists every day. They can tell the management staff what they need in a WeChat group created by the local government and the management staff tries to meet their needs.

Tourists stuck in the hostel are emotionally stable. They chat, play cards and watch movies together. However, not knowing when they will be able to leave, some begin to worry about the high cost of living at the hostel. Many also didn’t bring enough clothes as the weather is getting colder, Tan added.

The Alxa League, the region that administers the Ejin Banner, on Wednesday urgently sent two batches of materials, including face masks, medical protective clothing, disinfectant and winter supplies. The local Red Cross issued a notice on Sunday evening, calling for social donations in the area.

The latest outbreak of COVID-19, which has spread to 11 provinces in just one week, was triggered by a new imported source identified as being of the Delta variant, officials from China’s top health authority said on Sunday.

Ejin Banner has been under the spotlight amid the latest resurgence that has spread to 11 provinces in just one week, as almost all of the nationally transmitted cases were in tourist groups traveling to this division at the from the county in the region that borders Mongolia, the latest chains of transmission have shown.

Although the source was not specified, officials from China’s top health authority confirmed that the latest outbreaks were triggered by a new imported source of the Delta variant.

A Beijing-based immunologist, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Monday that the exchange of people and goods at the Sino-Mongolian port of Ejin Banner is very likely to be behind this series of attacks. infections.

“It is unlikely that the epidemic was caused by cold chain logistics because the port does not engage much in this type of logistics. But with the approach of winter, the exchanges of goods carry viruses like a cold chain,” he said. adding that the possibility of virus-carrying animals infecting humans cannot be ruled out. Further studies need to be conducted on animals in the region.

He further noted that Lanzhou, the capital of northwest China’s Gansu province, should follow suit and implement some form of lockdown as cases have recently spiked in the city, which serves a crucial transportation hub in northwest China, an area where the risk of the virus spreading tends to be higher.

On Monday, Lanzhou announced the shutdown of all unnecessary public places, city authorities said. All public gatherings are suspended and the city is asking residents not to leave their homes unless necessary.

Gansu reported four more new confirmed patients on Sunday, including three in Lanzhou. The total number of confirmed local cases in the province has reached 45, of which 33 are from Lanzhou.