Tibetan cities winning against COVID-19

Lhokha, Tibet autonomous region, announced it will gradually restore orderly production and life starting at midnight on Tuesday, on the basis of implementing region-specific, risk-based epidemic prevention and control measures.

Since Aug 23, the city has been moving toward zero COVID-19 transmission at the community level, according to a statement released by the office of city's leading group for fighting COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the region's eastern Chamdo city announced dynamic zero-COVID status at the community level on Sunday, based on comprehensive study and judgment by experts.

Places across the city have transformed to the stage of improving overall planning, balancing epidemic control with socioeconomic development, according to a statement released by the office of city's leading group for fighting COVID-19 on Sunday.

Since the city reached zero COVID-19 transmission at the community level on Aug 26, by strictly following the requirements of the COVID-19 prevention and control plan, the city has conducted 11 rounds of citywide mass nucleic acid tests.

The city has not reported any infections at the community level for seven consecutive days, and all counties and districts have gradually restored order to residents' lives.

On Saturday, the city's 10 counties and districts realized dynamic zero-COVID status at the community level, and the other five counties of the city have not been affected by the pandemic, the statement said.

Public transportation, governmental institutes, enterprises, production and business have resumed normal operations, supermarkets, drug stores and barbershops are encouraged to operate.

However, internet bars, bars, cinemas, KTVs and religious sites have not been required to close so far. Children's welfare homes, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals and prisons will be subject to closed-loop management.

People are required to wear masks, have body temperature measurements and check health QR code and travel code when entering communities and public transportation.

The plateau region reported 12 local confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 270 asymptomatic carriers between Monday and 2 pm on Tuesday, health authorities said at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.

As of Monday, the region had 147 areas designated as high risk for COVID-19 and 158 as medium-risk.

A total of 1,744 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 47,220 close contacts were dismissed from medical observation. But 53,076 people have been in centralized isolation for further medical observation.