To improve its ability to cope with imported cases of COVID-19, Luohu district held an emergency response drill on July 30 focusing on tackling a breakout of the disease.

In the drill, after a community testing station spotted a positive infectious sample of the infection, it immediately reported it to the district center for diseases control and prevention, and the Luohu Hospital Group.

Experts were then sent to the neighborhood to treat the person, initiating an epidemiological survey to trace the person’s close contacts.

An emergency response mechanism was immediately triggered in the community and beyond, and a command headquarters overseeing implementation of the mechanism went into action at the same time to coordinate joint efforts of different parties.

Meanwhile, a security team was deployed to enforce the quarantine of the person and his close contacts.

The health professional team took nucleic acid samples and conducted early treatment of the infected person before sending the patient to Shenzhen No.3 People’s Hospital, the hospital designated to treat those infected with COVID-19.

At the same time, the information office of the district closely followed the development of public disclosure of all necessary information to avoid public panic and rebut rumors.

In the drill, all departments worked closely with each other and took prompt action to fulfill their duties, so that the exercise realized its intended objectives, the local government said.

It is through such drills that Luohu has been able to improve the emergency response ability and management of its grassroots testing stations, providing a strong foundation for effective pandemic control of the whole district, according to the local government.