Woman 'Detective' Traces COVID-19

To cope with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Zhang Ying, Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Tianjin Municipality, led her colleagues to carry out epidemiological investigation and traced the chains of infection hidden behind confirmed COVID-19 cases. 

Their detailed, dangerous and challenging work requires them to have close contact with patients and find out new clues to the chains of infection in the sites.

When the first case was confirmed in Tianjin's Baodi District, Zhang and her colleagues arrived at the virus-hit area as quickly as possible and tracked the virus, trying to figure out the infection details in the shortest time.  

"How do we discover asymptomatic infections? Generally, as for the confirmed and highly suspected cases, we need to investigate and test people in close contact," she said. Zhang and her team found out five asymptomatic infection cases in Tianjin in late February through screening the people in close contact with the confirmed and highly suspected cases in Tianjin. 

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Zhang led her team to stick to their posts 24 hours a day. They conducted more than 60 site investigations and entered high risk areas 200-plus times. 

They also took the shortest time to complete epidemiological investigation, disinfection in epidemic-hit areas, and judgment and tracing of people in close contact, which effectively curbed the spread of the epidemic. 

Zhang made time to attend press conferences to publicize prevention information to the public.

"I hope people pay more attention to epidemic control and prevention," Zhang said, adding that the public should be encouraged to participate in the prevention and control efforts so as to win the fight against the epidemic.  

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)