Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

SHENZHEN has completed the whole genome sequencing of 13 COVID-19 cases in the latest resurgence that began Jan. 7, of which 11 cases are highly homologous with whole genome sequencing of the Delta variant (AY.103 sublineage) and belong to the same transmission chain, according to a press briefing held in Futian District on Thursday afternoon.

However, Cases 9 and 10’s whole genome could not be sequenced due to its low viral load, but the cases are family members of Cases 5, 6 and 7. Case 14’s sample is being sequenced.

Genome sequencing is a highly sophisticated test that can map out the whole genetic makeup of a virus from a patient sample and assign its category.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, 12 confirmed COVID cases and two asymptomatic infections had been reported in the city, all of which are being treated at a designated hospital and are in stable condition.

Shenzhen reported one new asymptomatic case of COVID-19 Wednesday night, bringing the total number of infections in the city’s latest COVID resurgence to 14 as of Wednesday, according to the municipal health authority.

Case 14 is a 41-year-old woman who works at an AEON supermarket in Nanwan Subdistrict, Longgang District, and lives in Hewei Village at Caopuxi Community in Qingshuihe Subdistrict, Luohu District. She is the wife of Case 11 and had been put under centralized quarantine as a close contact.

The 14 COVID-19 cases reported as of 5 p.m. Thursday all belong to the same transmission chain, according to Lin Hancheng from the municipal health commission.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, 2,249 close contacts and 3,058 secondary close contacts of the 14 cases had been put under health monitoring.

(Continued on P3)