Strengthening Community Defenses to Prevent and Control the Spread of COVID-19 in China

Abstract

In light of the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) around the world, it is an arduous task for China to prevent COVID-19 from being imported from abroad and proliferating domestically. The community is the first and most effective line of defense and can effectively cut off the channels of spread of the epidemic. In order to reduce risks of COVID-19 transmission in the community, it is necessary to sort out the loopholes in risk and management, as well as investigate previous epidemic transmission events in the community.

The rapid and efficient strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron transmission control: analysis of outbreaks at the city level

“…The conclusion of the study suggested that restriction measures reduce transmission and unknown contacts that can be difficult to trace, and the response stresses rapid and targeted action to bring new infections under control in regions with large elderly populations and limited healthcare resources, and it has enabled the country to keep infection and fatality rates very low. Also, similar to our findings, the scientists showed similar approach has been successfully adopted to rapidly subdue several waves of COVID-19 caused with Omicron BA.2 in China [35,36]. In addition, a large number of established fact proved that effective measures are not taken to respond to Omicron, and the the epidemic will not stop even if the vaccination rate is high [37][38][39], it can cause massive infections, severe infections and many deaths, especially in a country with a large elderly population and a large number of people with chronic illnesses who are at high risk of severe morbidity and mortality [37][38][39].…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that lifting lockdown restrictions may trigger a COVID-19 resurgence, but prolonged lockdown may lead to economic collapse in long term [2,46]. Some studies reported the short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 control strategies of different intensities on economic development from the perspective of supply chains [5,36]. The losses incurred by the supply chain from strong restrictive measures were largely dependent upon the duration (primary significance) and severity (secondary significance) of the lockdown and other suppression strategies [5,36].…”

“…Some studies reported the short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 control strategies of different intensities on economic development from the perspective of supply chains [5,36]. The losses incurred by the supply chain from strong restrictive measures were largely dependent upon the duration (primary significance) and severity (secondary significance) of the lockdown and other suppression strategies [5,36]. However, longer-term lockdown measures were found to be less costly than short-term measures but high-frequency lockdown, and earlier, stricter, and shorter lockdown periods could minimize the overall losses.…”

“…However, longer-term lockdown measures were found to be less costly than short-term measures but high-frequency lockdown, and earlier, stricter, and shorter lockdown periods could minimize the overall losses. No matter what control measures are undertaken, the losses to the complex global supply chain will exceed the direct losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic [5,36]. Therefore, implementing a series of comprehensive measures that combine short-term intense restraint measures and other effective methods, such tenaciously pursue the general policy of "dynamic zero-COVID.…”

Modelling the adjustment of COVID-19 response and exit from dynamic zero-COVID in China

“…Since March 2020, China has been containing successive sporadic clusters of COVID-19 infection through its "dynamic zero-COVID" policy -by mass lockdowns, universal compulsory testing of entire districts or even whole cities, stringent quarantine and isolation enforced down to the neighbourhood level, universal digital contact tracing and importation controls 1,2 . Although this zero-COVID strategy had remained effective in 2020-2021, the emergence and spread of Omicron since early 2022 has triggered prolonged lockdowns and major disruptions in megacities such as Beijing and Shanghai, with ramifications far beyond its own shores nationally and globally in terms of the economy, trade, and commerce.…”