Henan leader: Extinguish virus by month's end

After 40 asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 were confirmed on Sunday in Henan province, the total rose to 90 locally transmitted cases and 51 asymptomatic carriers from July 31 to Sunday, the provincial Health Commission said on Monday.

Of the total, 81 locally transmitted confirmed cases and 44 asymptomatic cases were reported in Zhengzhou.

Lou Yangsheng, Party secretary of Henan, called for the province to tamp down the latest outbreak swiftly.

"The coming two weeks, and especially the coming week, are the crucial time to cope with this round of the epidemic," Lou said at the third special epidemic control meeting held on Sunday by the Party Committee of Henan. "The whole province needs to unite with confidence and use the strictest standards and the most resolute measures to enclose, seal and extinguish the epidemic by the end of this month."

Lou emphasized the need for cooperation between regions to trace coronavirus contacts. If confirmed cases are found among close contacts or secondary close contacts, epidemiological investigation must continue, one by one, until 100 percent of the hidden risks are rooted out, he said.