COVID-19 situations in China easing, but still serious

COVID-19 outbreaks in China have eased recently, with newly added daily infections below 1,200 for the past week and regions with infections further narrowing, a senior health official said on Monday.

Lei Zhenglong, deputy director of the National Health Commission's Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, said the outbreak in Shanghai is improving and daily infections have remained below 1,000 for eight days.

However, there is great pressure to prevent a resurgence, and in certain areas and communities, the epidemic situation is still volatile, he said at a news conference.

Meanwhile in Beijing, there are cluster infections and sporadic cases, and the risk of infection remains in certain areas and among key groups, Lei said.

The commission will continue to guide local authorities to take scientific and targeted epidemic control measures to contain outbreaks as soon as possible with minimal cost.

Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the number of confirmed and asymptomatic local cases in the country has dropped for 27 consecutive days, but there have been new cluster infections reported and the epidemic situation remains severe and complicated.

The country should continue to prevent imported cases and contain cluster infections more quickly, he said.

Nucleic acid tests should be available within a 15-minute walk in provincial capitals and cities with over 10 million people, he said.

COVID-19 vaccinations will continue, with a focus on the elderly, he added.