China ‘can contain COVID-19 resurgence within a month’

Chinese renowned respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

GUANGZHOU – China's top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said that the country will be able to effectively contain the latest COVID-19 resurgence within a month.

Zhong made the remarks during a webinar attended by medical professionals on Saturday, as sporadic local COVID-19 cases have been reported in various parts of the country.

Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission, said by the end of Friday, the latest COVID-19 resurgence in China had spread to 14 provinces

"The coronavirus and the pandemic cannot be eradicated within a short period of time," said Zhong, calling on other countries to adopt strict and prioritized measures against COVID-19 and actively roll out vaccination.

Zhong said he expects that more than 80 percent of Chinese residents will have been fully vaccinated by the end of this year.  

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Meanwhile, a health official said the epidemic prevention and control situation is grim and complicated as infections are still spreading rapidly.

Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission, said at a press conference that by the end of Friday, the latest COVID-19 resurgence in China had spread to 14 provinces.

The Chinese mainland on Friday reported 59 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 19 new imported cases, according to the NHC daily report.