Latest virus outbreak in final stage, health authority says

No reason to relax strict measures as they are so far most efficient, cost-effective way

China's latest COVID-19 outbreak, which has spread to over 20 provincial-level regions since mid-October, is entering its final stage, health officials said on Saturday.

National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng told a news briefing that eight provinces affected by the resurgence of the virus had registered no new local infections for at least 14 days, and multiple provinces had brought the virus under control within one incubation period.

The epidemic situation in border or port areas, including Ejine Banner in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Heihe in Heilongjiang province and Dalian in Liaoning province, has been dealt with promptly and effectively, he said.

"The existing epidemic containment policy should continue to be enforced, and virus control capacity at port areas should be further strengthened," Mi said, adding that authorities will strive to minimize the impact of the measures on production and livelihoods.

Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the commission's disease prevention and control bureau, said the outbreak in Dalian is stabilizing, but some areas are still at risk of seeing transmission in communities, and vigilance must be maintained against flare-ups.

The port city in Northeast China has reported more than 300 confirmed local infections since the first case was detected in a cold storage worker on Nov 4.

"We should not relax, and local authorities should stay cautious against the virus," Wu said.