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Based on the fact that the Omicron variant is much harder to detect and more contagious than the original strain, some people argue that it is not easy to realize early quarantine, thus making dynamic zero-COVID approach almost equivalent to a citywide closed-off management and mass nucleic acid test. What's your view? How to contain the spread of the virus as early as possible without conducting mass nucleic acid tests or imposing a citywide lockdown? Thank you.
Liang Wannian:
Thanks for your question. First of all, I want to make it clear that even though the Omicron variant is highly contagious, hard to detect, and results in many asymptomatic cases, it doesn't mean that we can't realize early detection early reporting, early quarantine, and early treatment. If the "four earlies" principle is conscientiously observed, we don't have to launch a mass nucleic acid test or put a whole city under lockdown. So, my point is that fighting Omicron doesn't necessarily imply a citywide mass nucleic acid test or citywide closed-off management.
What kind of test strategy shall we adopt? At present, we advocate a joint test strategy featuring conducting nucleic acid tests and antigen self-test based on the development of the pandemic. Generally speaking, the earlier the transmission is detected, the easier it is to figure out its chains. That's to say, we can more precisely find out how the cases are infected, who their contacts are, and people in which areas might be affected, thus doing a better job in terms of the "four earlies." We can then conduct the nucleic acid test and antigen self-test within a targeted area instead of imposing an extensive lockdown. This is very important.
Can we effectively control the pandemic without city-wide nucleic acid testing and lockdown? I would say it's possible as long as we can ensure "early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment." While to guarantee the "four earlies," it requires a set of concepts, capacities, and mechanisms. Therefore, in response to the pandemic, I believe that all places across the country should make good preparations. The monitoring capacity, discovery and reporting capacity, quick reaction capacity, the participation of multiple departments and individuals, the alerts, and degree of emphasis on diseases are highly relevant to achieving the "four earlies."
On the other hand, if we fail to achieve the "four earlies" and discover the cases late, in particular, for some infected patients, if we can't figure out where they are from, how many people have been exposed to, and the spread range. The basic reproduction number of Omicron variant will hit 9.5 with its fast transmission speed. In addition, the median incubation period is three days, compared with the original strain of 5.4 days and the Delta variant of four days. Its time interval of intergenerational transmission is 2.83 days. Under the circumstance of without knowing its source of infection, the spread range, and close contacts of infected patients, given the variant's fast transmission speed, we must expand the range of control, enhance nucleic acid testing, strengthen relevant prevention and control measures, to keep the pandemic under control. I believe it is also the need for pandemic prevention and control.
Generally speaking, China has already been equipped with the technologies and approaches to achieve the "four earlies." For example, our nucleic acid testing technology and the extensively used COVID-19 antigen self-testing kits. The effective combination of nucleic acid testing and antigen self-testing could help to discover the potentially infected people as soon as possible across the places where there are COVID-19 outbreaks and resurgences. Moreover, we have made a series of regulations and requirements in the law. In addition, we have established a set of the comprehensive monitoring system, which has further enhanced our monitoring capacity. More importantly, we have accumulated abundant experience battling the coronavirus over the past two years. In terms of the emergency system, treatment system, people's participation in prevention and control, collaboration among departments, and the joint prevention and control mechanism, we have formed basic experience to curb the fast-spreading virus with fast response-ability, especially regarding the Omicron variant. As long as we can use those resources, we will achieve the "four earlies" and win the battle against COVID-19 at a minimum cost. Thank you.
