In Jilin province, a COVID reprieve

Jilin province reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases or asymptomatic carriers on Thursday, the provincial Health Commission said on Friday.

It was the first day that no new cases had been reported since Feb 28 when the first infection in the latest outbreak was detected in Hunchun, a border city in Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture.

Infections were reported in succession in the cities of Jilin and Changchun in the following days. As of March 11, the epidemic had spread to six city-level regions and a county under administration of the province. Community transmission also broke out simultaneously in the cities of Changchun and Jilin.

After days of effort, Jilin city achieved zero-COVID status at the community level on April 8; Changchun achieved it on April 13.

A total of 36 confirmed cases and 67 asymptomatic carriers were discharged from hospitals or quarantine on Thursday, the commission said.