China is focusing on imported infections, asymptomatic cases
CHINA WILL RECLASSIFY DOGS AS PETS AND NOT LIVESTOCK, A POTENTIAL GAME CHANGER, AS CANINES ARE USED FOR MEAT IN SEVERAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
BEIJING: China on Thursday reported 63 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours including 61 imported ones, recording a twoweek high in the number of daily confirmed patients returning to the country from abroad.
Preparing for a possible second wave of infections, the Chinese government has also issued strict new guidelines for monitoring and treating asymptomatic patients or those who are infected but do not show symptoms.
China has also drawn up new guidelines to reclassify dogs as pets rather than livestock, a potential “game changer” in animal welfare. Though dog meat remains a delicacy in many regions, the agriculture ministry said in a notice published on Wednesday that dogs would no longer be considered as livestock.
Two new deaths reported from the central Chinese province of Hubei pushed the overall death toll to 3,335 while total infections stood at 81,865, the national health commission (NHC) said on Thursday.
China has now recorded nearly 120 imported Covid-19 cases in two days, and as of Wednesday, the mainland had reported a total of 1103 of these cases.
A new circular issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet, has instructed local authorities to intensify the detection of and prompt response against asymptomatic cases of Covid-19.
Asymptomatic cases refer to people who tested positive for the coronavirus but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat, said the circular, noting that they are infectious and pose a risk of spreading to others.
“Screening of asymptomatic infections should be stepped up, targeting close contacts of confirmed patients, people involved in cluster outbreaks, those exposed to Covid-19 and travellers from areas with high risks of infections,” the document said.
The State Council issued strict measures to monitor asymptomatic cases, an indication that this has the potential to fuel a second wave of the outbreak within China.