Dynamic clearing most cost-reducing approach

Beijing announced 22 new novel coronavirus infections on Tuesday, raising the total number to 92 since the virus was detected in the capital on Friday.

The authorities have acted quickly in a bid to curb the transmission of the virus, organizing large-scale nucleic acid testing on Monday in the districts where infections have been detected, and expanding the testing to all but five outer districts on Tuesday. Two more rounds of testing are to be carried out in the coming days.

With the authorities acting swiftly and decisively, much of the initial public anxiety at the news of the virus’ arrival has eased and the mood in the capital is more sanguine. This has been reinforced by supermarket shelves being swiftly replenished after Sunday’s stockpiling-clearing, and the reassurance that people will be able to receive non-COVID-19 medical treatment should they need it.

Most residents now seem confident that with the targeted measures aimed at early finding, early reporting, early confirming and early quarantining, they will not have to suffer the same travails as residents in Shanghai, which has now entered the fourth week of an arduous citywide lockdown.

Although temporary control zones have been introduced in districts in Beijing where infections have been found, so far a large-scale lockdown has not been imposed and there are hopes that with the rapid response one will not be necessary.

A big picture of the epidemic situation in the capital is to be drawn from the results of the three rounds of testing that are being carried out in 11 of the municipality’s 16 districts. If more cases with clear transmission chains are detected outside the currently sealed-off areas, more epidemiological investigations will be carried out to see whether restrictions need to be applied to wider areas.

Meanwhile, in Shanghai, which has spent almost two months struggling to control the latest wave of the virus, the goal of zero community transmission is hopefully now within sight.

The number of infections, severe cases, and deaths in Shanghai might not be that high compared with those in other countries — the latest wave of the virus has claimed 190 lives in the city — but that’s the result of the nation providing assistance to avoid the exhaustion of the local medical resources. Had China loosened its dynamic clearing approach to the virus and opted to co-exist with it, the numbers would have been beyond everyone’s acceptance.

The facts show that the dynamic clearing strategy maximizes the effects of the scientific approach to controlling the virus, while minimizing the costs, both human and economic. The country will not lie flat. It will continue to endure the short-term pains of battling the virus in order to safeguard people’s lives, health and livelihoods to the best of its ability.

Editorial, China Daily