Dalian Limits Large Gatherings Over Rising COVID-19 Concerns

The city has six confirmed cases in addition to 20 asymptomatic infections

The northeastern Chinese city of Dalian reported nine new local cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, with authorities canceling large gatherings and events to prevent further infections.

In a statement Wednesday, the city’s disease prevention and control bureau said that only one of the nine has been listed as a confirmed patient. China only includes symptomatic patients as “confirmed cases” toward its national tally.

The newly confirmed patient has been identified as a 58-year-old woman who became infected with the coronavirus after her asymptomatic daughter had previously tested positive, according to the statement.

As of Wednesday, Dalian had six confirmed COVID-19 patients in addition to 20 asymptomatic cases.

Amid the rising infections, Dalian authorities have ordered the cancellation of large-scale events organized by party officials and state-owned companies. In areas classified as middle- and high-risk, all commercial activities are being suspended.

Over the past week, multiple Chinese provinces have reported new local COVID-19 cases, including one in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, six in Liaoning, where Dalian is located, and one in the southwestern Sichuan province.

Dalian had previously reported a COVID-19 cluster in multiple areas of the city in July that was traced to a local seafood processing company. Last month, China tightened supervision of all imported cold-chain products after such goods were linked to several infections in recent months.

Editor: Bibek Bhandari.

(Header image: People line up for nucleic acid tests in Dalian, Liaoning province, Dec. 22, 2020. People Visual)