Pandemic approach must be maintained: China Daily editorial

There were 427 novel coronavirus infections and more than 1,600 asymptomatic cases reported in 28 provincial-level regions on Monday. The latest resurgence of the virus nationwide has lasted for weeks, and there is no sign that this wave will be brought under complete control any time soon.

The latest spike in infections is related to the increase in travel during the seven-day National Day holiday. The rapid spread of the virus also points to the fact that the latest variant of the virus is strongly transmissible.

The harder it has become to control the spread of the virus, the more necessary it is for residents to maintain their guard by observing necessary rules to reduce the chances of catching the virus.

Governments at all levels should also do their utmost to do a good job to make sure that every link in the prevention and control mechanism is well coordinated, leaving no chances for the virus to run rampant.

For individual residents, it is essential to remain on high alert and not to drop their guard. They must continue to wear masks when going to public venues, take a nucleic acid test on a regular basis as required, disinfect packages delivered to their homes and wash their hands when returning home.

They should not take it for granted that the current variants of the virus are less harmful. There are indeed much fewer severe cases, but there is the risk of further mutation of the virus which may result in serious consequences.

It would be consequential for China, which has been doing quite well in keeping the spread of the virus under control, to choose to live with the virus. Those countries that have given up on taking a proactive response to the virus have paid heavy prices. The much higher death tolls and the potential danger of losing more lives to the new variants of the novel coronavirus should serve as a reminder that China must continue its approach of a tight and targeted response to the virus.

Economic activities have been affected to different degrees, in particular in those localities where an increasing number of cases are being detected. Yet if no strict prevention and control measures were taken to contain the spread of the virus, the larger-scale pandemic that would undoubtedly arise would deal a heavier blow to the entire national economy.

What China has achieved in its economic growth while maintaining its active response to the COVID-19 has verified the correctness of its overall strategy in this regard.

To protect people's lives and maintain the steady growth of its economy, China must continue its current approach to contain the virus. Although the approach needs to be dynamically targeted and refined in light of the actual situation so that it causes as little inconvenience as possible to people's lives.