Why did this epidemic occur in Qingdao? Where is the source of the Qingdao epidemic?

On September 24, two asymptomatic cases of infection were found in Qingdao, which aroused people's concern. On the 12th, the National Health Commission sent a working group to Qingdao to guide the epidemic prevention and control work. The relevant departments have issued a reminder not to go to Qingdao unless it is necessary. Why did this epidemic occur in Qingdao, and where is the source?

The cause and source of the epidemic in Qingdao

Many experts have predicted long ago that the epidemic may recur this winter and next spring. The Qingdao outbreak is the first this winter and a recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This should be expected. We should pay attention to it but not be overly nervous.

After an epidemiological investigation, the expert group preliminarily determined that the epidemic in Qingdao was related to Qingdao Chest Hospital. Some independent areas of the hospital were responsible for treating patients infected with the new coronavirus imported from abroad. The specific source of infection is being further investigated, but judging from the incidence, most of them are concentrated in Qingdao Chest Hospital, including hospitalized patients and accompanying personnel. A new coronavirus infection has occurred in a hospital that treats patients infected with the new coronavirus imported from abroad. Medically, its source is likely to be in the Chest Hospital, and it is the infection imported from abroad that spread within the hospital. Of course, the final conclusion should be made by the authority on the premise of extensive evidence collection to make a scientific judgment.

The website of Qingdao Municipal Health Commission shows that as of 14:00 on October 14, Qingdao had collected 8,289,666 samples for nucleic acid testing of the new coronavirus.

As of 14:00 on October 14, the city has identified 532 close contacts, all of whom have been put under centralized quarantine and observation and completed two rounds of nucleic acid testing. Except for 9 people in the first round of testing who tested positive and have been released in a timely manner, the rest were negative, and all completed the third round of nucleic acid sampling. Results for 351 people have been released, all of which are negative; 269 close contacts of close contacts have been identified, all of whom have been put under centralized quarantine and observation and completed two rounds of nucleic acid testing, and the results are all negative. All completed the third round of nucleic acid sampling, and results for 89 people have been released, all of which are negative. 859 general contacts have all completed nucleic acid testing, and the results are all negative; 205,494 medical staff, inpatients and accompanying personnel have completed nucleic acid testing sampling, and 199,184 results have been released, all of which are negative; 8,080,925 community people have completed nucleic acid testing sampling, and 4,716,819 results have been released, all of which are negative.

Localities have begun to count people who have recently traveled to Qingdao, and it is recommended that everyone should not travel to Qingdao unless necessary. We believe that strict prevention and control measures will effectively control the spread of the epidemic.

What are the things in this incident that should warn us?

The COVID-19 outbreak in Qingdao this time is different from the outbreaks in Beijing, Xinjiang, Dalian and other places a few months ago. According to China News Weekly, the area of ​​Qingdao Chest Hospital responsible for treating imported COVID-19 patients is closed and managed separately from the building where the chest department is located, about one kilometer apart. Why did the infection also occur? If the management is strict, it is necessary to check whether there are omissions in the infection prevention and control within the local hospital, such as checking the disinfection of equipment and medical environment, and the disposal of medical waste. Only by finding the source of the problem can it be beneficial to carry out future prevention and control work.

Therefore, in the face of the new coronavirus, in addition to doing a good job in basic prevention and control, we must also pay attention to changes in the epidemic and what new situations need to be observed and dealt with. Only by constant observation and diligent thinking can we discover the strangeness of the virus and adjust our response measures in a timely manner.

Autumn is here. What should we pay attention to in terms of epidemic prevention and control?

As mentioned earlier, this winter and next spring will be a time when the epidemic will recur, and may even trigger a second wave of the epidemic. Now winter is approaching us, and the epidemic is also approaching us. Therefore, it is very important to do a good job in epidemic prevention and control.

First, do a good job of basic prevention and control: still the same few words: wear a mask, wash hands frequently, gather less, and ventilate more. This is the lowest cost and most effective prevention and control measure.

Second, do a good job of scientific prevention and control: In the face of the possible epidemic, some people choose to strictly prevent and control it, but the author believes that strict prevention and control is good, but the cost of prevention and control is too high. Therefore, we should do a good job of scientific prevention and control and precise prevention and control, that is, on the premise of doing a good job of basic prevention and control, we should deal with and close off wherever there is a problem. This kind of prevention and control is effective and has the lowest cost. This time, Qingdao took this approach.

3. Continue to strictly prevent infection from the imported coronavirus from abroad: With the control of the domestic epidemic, it will be an important task to strictly prevent infection from the imported coronavirus from abroad in the future. Monitoring and prevention of foreign personnel and foreign imported products (especially imported food) will be a normalized task.

Fourth, restrain your own behavior and try to reduce travel to other places: After the Qingdao epidemic, all localities registered people who had been to Qingdao and quarantined those who had close contact. Therefore, if we can regulate our own behavior and not travel to other places unless necessary, we can save a lot of trouble, reduce the cost of prevention and control, and reduce the impact on people's lives.

In short, the recurrence of the epidemic or the occurrence of a second wave of the epidemic is a high-probability event. We must both pay attention to it and despise it. We have the experience of preventing and controlling the serious epidemic at the beginning of the year, and with the strong leadership of the Party and the unity of all people, we can overcome any recurring epidemic.

Author: Ji Guangwei, Chief Physician of the Second Staff Hospital of Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corporation

Reviewer: Li Wensi, PhD in Clinical Pharmacy, Fudan University

This article was published by Tencent's "Everyone Loves Science" team

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