Chinese experience in the management and control of COVID-19 epidemic

Abstract

In December 2019, a new epidemic of coronavirus disease appeared (COVID–19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 (formerly 2019-nCoV). The first reported disease cases occurred in Wuhan, Hubei province, resulting in the third zoonotic event related to lethal human coronavirus. Initially, the incubation period is 1-14 days (mean 5-6 days) in most cases but can be as long as 24 days1,2. The most commonly seen characteristics of COVID-19 are fever, cough, tiredness, and abnormal chest computed tomography3,4. So far, bat is thought to be the origin of SARS-CoV-2, based on sequence homology of 96% between SARS-CoV-2 and Bat-CoV-RaTG135,6,7, but more impartial scientific investigations on the origin-tracing of the virus are required to elucidate the issue. Human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs mainly via respiratory droplets1, direct contact1, asymptomatic transmission8,9 , and intrafamilial transmission3,4. At present, there are over 206 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with a 4.35 million death toll10. As of 12 August 2021, China had confirmed 94,260 cases with 4636 deaths (mortality rate 5%), and 87,740 recovered cases (93%)11. Other countries, even though they had much more time to prepare for the arrival of the virus, delayed their response and that meant lost control12. While the world is struggling to control COVID-19, China has been a good example of how to control the epidemic, and has shared information with other countries on the management and prevention of the disease. How was that possible?