A medical worker collects a swab sample from a child at a COVID-19 testing site in Baiwangzhuang Village of Jingxing County, Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China is facing rising risks of COVID-19 epidemic as cluster cases have emerged in some parts of the country ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, a health official said on Wednesday.
A total of 757 locally transmitted cases occurred in the Chinese mainland over the past week, said Mi Feng with the National Health Commission (NHC) at a press conference in Beijing.
The number of close contacts under medical observation reached a ten-month record high, he added.
The newly reported cluster cases mainly occurred in rural areas, Mi said, adding the virus spread in families, communities and schools has posed a challenge to the disease containment effort. ■
