Fujian steps up epidemic control as new cases surge

Putian and Xiamen have both suspended school openings and shifted all classes to online. The cities have also begun mass nucleic acid testing and imposed travel restrictions, telling residents they can only leave for essential reasons. In order to leave, a person must submit proof of a negative test result within 48 hours of departure.

Fujian province has deployed 122 experts, over 2,000 medical workers and four vehicles in Putian to treat patients, conduct nucleic acid testing and investigate the outbreak.

The National Health Commission sent a working group to Putian on Saturday to offer guidance.

Xiamen resident Lu Fang said people have accepted the restrictions. "Although quarantine at home is boring and children cannot go to school, these are nothing compared with our health and safety," she said.

"The measures have been taken to stop the spread of the virus. We believe these are effective measures, and we are willing to cooperate fully. If everyone cooperates, we will be able to shorten the quarantine time," she added.

The first case of the current outbreak was detected on Friday during routine nucleic acid testing at an elementary school in Xianyou county, Putian, when a 12-year-old student tested positive. Health experts suspect the source of the outbreak might be the student's father who had returned from Singapore, the city government said on Friday.