On July 11, five locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 were confirmed and registered in the Lianyungang city of Jiangsu province.

Twenty-three symptomless cases (15 in Wuxi, one in Suzhou, and seven in Lianyungang) were newly reported in the province.

Another three hospitalized Covid-19 patients (one local and two inbound) were discharged, while 12 asymptomatic carriers (nine local and three inbound) were released from medical observation.

Forty-two confirmed cases (35 local and seven inbound) are still undergoing treatment at designated hospitals, while 605 asymptomatic carriers (593 local and 12 inbound) are currently under medical observation in isolation.

As of this update, China's list of virus transmission zones stands at 313 high-risk and 473 medium-risk areas.

Experts noted that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus � with increased transmissibility, a shorter incubation period, and higher rates of asymptomatic transmission � has imposed a new challenge for epidemic controls. It is necessary to continue practicing personal protective measures during all transmission scenarios and keep up with relevant information from official sources. Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel abroad or trips to areas with medium- or high-risk status or places with confirmed local cases.