Chongqing reaches peak of current COVID infections

Chongqing has reached the peak of the current COVID-19 infections based on the changes in the number of patients in local fever clinics, deputy director of the municipal health commission Li Pan said.

Statistics showed that the maximum number of daily visits to fever clinics in Chongqing's secondary and higher medical institutions and fever clinics in grassroots medical institutions was about 49,000, while the current number is only more than 7,000, he said at the press on Tuesday.

"Current local COVID-19 prevention and control measures have shifted from 'infection prevention' to 'health protection and severe cases prevention'," Li said. Thus, the local health care system has taken targeted measures that include the strengthening of the management of fever clinics, preparation of medical resources, and diagnosis and treatment capacity in the grassroots.

Chongqing government spokesperson Yang Lin said the local COVID-19 prevention and control headquarters has formulated an implementation plan for an orderly transition to Class-B management of COVID-19, as well as five special plans including pandemic monitoring, testing, prevention and control guidelines, personal protection guidance and prevention and control training, which will be implemented from Jan 8.

Moreover, free medical kits for COVID-19 treatment, including medicines and COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits, will be distributed to the elderly over 60 in the city's rural areas, according to an official at the conference.