Guangzhou reports 4,581 new COVID-19 cases

On the afternoon of December 4, Guangzhou held a COVID-19 Prevention and Control Press Conference to brief the latest epidemic situation in the city.

On December 3, Guangzhou reported 4,581 locally acquired COVID-19 cases, among which 71 were found in communities. Meantime, 10,047 people were discharged from (makeshift) hospitals, among the total 76,376 discharged since the outbreak of this round of epidemic.

Zhang Yi, Deputy Director General of the Guangzhou Health Commission, said thatmost of the new infections were still found in Haizhu District with cluster outbreaks in urban villages in Tianhe District and Panyu District.

Zhang Yi pointed out that febrile diseases usually peak in the fall and winter. The recent temperature fall and rainfall in Guangzhou have further complicated the situation, sending an increasing number of patients to fever clinics across the city. At present, fever clinics in all kinds of medical institutions at all levels should be open at their full capacity to receive patients and guarantee medical services.

Zhang Zhoubin, Party Secretary and Spokesman of the Guangzhou Center for Disease Prevention and Control, stressed the importance of masks, hand washing and vaccination as the three magic weapons against COVID-19.

He introduced that people over 60 years old are more likely to develop severe symptoms after being infected by COVID-19, with those over 80 years old being the most vulnerable group. Research shows that the risk of developing severe symptoms and death can be reduced by more than 90% if the elderly are vaccinated against COVID-19, especially with the booster shot.

[Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

"Get vaccinated, get benefited. Take the booster shot, set your heart at rest", Zhang Zhoubin suggested that the elderly should be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Xu Yi, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine and Director of the Infection Department of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, said that children are susceptible to COVID-19, mainly with mild symptoms. Generally, the fever lasts for a short time before the children recover within three to five days. Parents do not need to get too anxious, and they should instead pay more attention to ensure proper daily protection.

First, when children have an upper respiratory infection with fever, cough and other symptoms in the fall and winter, parents should observe closely. If there is a persistent high fever, accompanied by frequent coughing, vomiting, poor spirit and decreased appetite, they should seek medical advice immediately.

Second, children, especially infants, should try to avoid entering high-risk areas, crowded and enclosed areas. Parents should help their children to develop good personal hygiene habits.

Xu stressed that "parents can enhance their immune system through vaccination and thus build up a wall of protection for their children as well."

Li Minghua, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, said that since mid-October, the bureau has made concentrated efforts in employment services for the groups most affected by the outbreak. It has served 63,200 job seekers and examined and approved RMB 630 million in employment and entrepreneurship subsidies, which has benefited 53,000 enterprises and 278,100 people.

Li highlighted three priorities in the next stage: The first is to implement the employment policy for key groups such as unemployed university and college graduates and job seekers facing difficulties in securing employment. The second is to understand enterprises' labor demands and provide targeted employment services in a timely manner. The third is to create more jobs via multiple channels and secure jobs for the groups most affected by the outbreak.

Yang Yanze, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Deputy Executive Head of Baiyun District, said that in the district, existing fever clinics are being doubled and more primary-level fever clinics are being established based on population density, which will operate 24 hours a day. Cloud healthcare is boosted; return visits for some common diseases and chronic diseases and medicine delivery are encouraged to be performed online; and efforts have been put into ensuring convenient and high-quality Internet diagnosis and treatment services. Vaccination services have been optimized, with vaccination sites established at all general hospitals above Level 2, town health service centers, and community health service centers. As many senior residents have difficulties in using smartphones or mobility, vaccination teams have been established to serve them at their doorstep.

Yang said that Baiyun District is accelerating enterprises' resumption of work and production. Mismatch between production and sales and issues in labor and energy have been addressed in a case-by-case approach. Stronger assistance is provided to enterprises and the policy and measure package to stabilize the economy is implemented. 497 key projects have been accelerated in construction. Since December 3, the daily flow of people in Baiyun New Town including Wanda Plaza, Greenland Center, and Gate 5 Mall has increased by 4 times compared with the same period last month. 

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